Its Sabalenka again! Aryna defends her Aussie Open title in two sets

Aryna Sabalenka sealed a second straight Australian Open title with a masterful performance against first-time Grand Slam finalist Qinwen Zheng in Melbourne on Saturday.

The defending champion swept the first set, winning 6-3, before finishing in style 6-2.

Standing in her way was China’s Zheng, who, at only 21 years old, was competing in her first Grand Slam final.

Sabalenka defeated Coco Gauff in the semi-final to win a high-quality match 7-6, 6-4, to avenge her US Open loss.

READ ALSO Sabalenka blows away Gauff to storm into Aussie Open final

Meanwhile, Zheng held her own against Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska’s groundstrokes to win 6-4, 6-4 in her semifinal.

World number two Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian Open for the second year in a row.

Zheng, who had not yet faced a top-50 opponent until the final, is the first Chinese player to make it to a Grand Slam decider since Li Na won the title here a decade ago, could not cope with Sabalenka’s ruthless power throughout the contest which lasted 76 minutes.

Sabalenka received the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup from Evonne Goolagong Cawley on the 50th anniversary of her first singles title here.

READ ALSO Sinner ends Djokovic Grand Slam history bid at Australian Open

Afterwards, she said: “I want to congratulate Qinwen on an incredible couple of weeks. I know how tough it is to lose in the final but you’re such an incredible player and you’re going to get it.

“It’s been an amazing couple of weeks. I couldn’t imagine myself lifting this trophy one more time. It’s an unbelievable feeling.

“As always my speech is going to be weird. Team, wow. Thank you so much for being by my side no matter what. I mean, without me you wouldn’t be that good as well.