Aryna Sabalenka defended her Australian Open crown in style, defeating Zheng Qinwen in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) to lift her second Grand Slam trophy. Andy Roddick commented that after such a dominant performance in 2024, Sabalenka can rightfully claim the status of the world's best. He pointed to her recent string of high-level results as proof that she is the most consistent athlete in the sport and commended her for overcoming her previous struggles with her serve.
Aryna Sabalenka registered a dominant straight-set 6-3, 6-2 win over Zheng Qinwen in the final of the Australian Open on Saturday to claim her second Grand Slam title and defend the maiden crown she won in Melbourne last year. Andy Roddick says Sabalenka “has every right to think she’s the best player in the world right now” after the Belarusian retained her Australian Open championship in 2024. The former American player recognized Sabalenka as the “most consistent player” on the planet in light of her recent big results and lauded her for overcoming her “serving yips.”
The World No. 2 displayed absolute dominance throughout the tournament, winning every single set in seven matches. In fact, she lost more than three games in only two sets—both occurring during her semi-final battle against Coco Gauff, which she won 7-6(2), 6-4. Since the 2022 US Open, the 25-year-old has consistently reached at least the semi-finals in six straight majors, a feat unmatched by any other WTA player in that timeframe.
Roddick lauded Sabalenka's exceptional Grand Slam run, specifically noting how she fixed the serving issues that led to a barrage of double faults back in 2022. He mentioned that it is rewarding to see such hard work pay off, noting that just over a year ago, her mental strength and confidence were questioned due to her serving struggles.
While her physical power has always been evident, Roddick credited her for the mental work required to achieve such a comprehensive victory. He expressed hope that Sabalenka feels as proud of her achievement as observers do. He added that looking back two years, few would have predicted she would become the most consistent player on the circuit, given her trajectory through the last six majors.
Roddick also gave credit to Qinwen Zheng, noting that while her side of the bracket saw many seeds fall early, the pressure of knowing a final was within reach from the round of 16 is immense. Winning six matches to reach the final is a massive achievement that will likely change Zheng's life and career forever.