By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, January 20, 2024
Defending AO champion Aryna Sabalenka did not drop serve dismissing Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-2 to reach her sixth straight Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Photo credit: Phil Walter/Getty
Playing beneath the closed roof of Margaret Court Arena, a soaring Aryna Sabalenka knows no ceiling.
Reigning Australian Open champion Sabalenka dismissed dangerous Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-2 in a powerful performance to advance to her sixth straight Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Swiatek: Sharp Instinct Was Missing in Loss
Producing an inspired comeback after taking an eight-month sabbatical from the sport for her mental health, Anisimova carried a 4-1 career over Sabalenka onto court.
An imposing Sabalenka was near-flawless on first serve—she won 27 of 31 first-serve points, slammed six aces against one double fault did not drop serve in a masterful 70-minute match.
“I’m super happy with the level happy to get this win—she’s a tough opponent,” Sabalenka told Jill Craybas in her on-court interview. “I’m super happy to see her back on Tour. I’m pretty sure she’ll be back on top very soon. I wish her all the best.
“That’s why I’m getting strong because I enjoy the atmosphere so much. And I really want to stay here as long as I can till the very last day and hopefully we can get this one one more time. Thank you so much guys.”
It is Sabalenka’s 11th consecutive Australian Open victory and propels her into a compelling quarterfinal against either 16-year-old sensation Mirra Andreeva or two-time reigning Australian Open doubles champion and No. 9-seeded Barbora Krejcikova.
"Both players are really great players. I've played against both couple of times," Sabalenka said. "We had, like, really tough matches.
"Andreeva is a young girl, kind of like nothing to lose. She's playing really great tennis. Especially when you're coming back after 1-5 down, facing some match points and you still win the match, it's gives you more confidence and more belief, I would say, that you can do anything. It can be tricky. She's moving well, hitting the ball quite clean, serving well. She is a tough opponent.
"About Barbora, we played a lot of matches. She plays really well. I think she's coming back after injuries, so also super motivated. Always tough battle."
Defending a Grand Slam title is one of the toughest tasks in tennis. Questions swirled around Sabalenka as she arrived in Melbourne Park to launch her maiden major defense.
A ruthless Sabalenka has resoundingly answered those questions through the opening week.
Commanding the center of the court, Sabalenka has surrendered just 11 games in four tournament victories dispensing bagels in three of the eight sets she’s played.
Eager for a fast start today, Sabalenka moved better and struck with more accuracy on the run. The big-hitting Belarusian blasted 18 winners against 12 unforced errors—nine fewer errors than Anisimova.
The defending champion cruised through 12 of her first 15 service points streaking out to a 4-1 lead after about 20 minutes.
A very light rain prompted a bit of an extended break after that fifth game though officials opted against closing the retractable roof over Margaret Court Arena.
Anisimova smiled at that decision when she was at the service line holding a 30-love lead when the skies opened and showers streamed down forcing suspension of play.
The ball kids used tournament towels to dry the court. Anisimova headed inside to speak to her coach during the delay to close the roof and dry the court while Sabalenka remained on court.
Since the suspension was longer than 10 minutes, the pair had a three-minute warm-up before resuming play.
When play resumed, Anisimova pumped an ace down the T to help her hold for 2-4.
Squatting low, Aga Radwanska-style, Sabalenka slammed a diagonal forehand winner going on to stamp her first love hold for 5-2.
The Sabalenka first serve and forehand were fierce weapons in the set. Sabalenka served 63 percent, won 15 of 15 first-serve points and committed only five unforced errors—nine fewer than the American—building a one-set lead.
The 2019 French Open semifinalist Anisimova followed a backhand forward but pushed a forehand volley wide dropping serve to start the second set.
Fifty-eight minutes into the match, Anisimova reached love-30 on the Sabalenka serve.
The champion pressed the mute button thundering her fifth ace then firing a forehand down the line to quiet the uprising and extend her lead to 4-2.
The inability to break from love-30 up left a frustrated Anisimova swiping her Wilson racquet off the black Kia signage.
Serving for the quarterfinals at 5-2, Sabalenka faced her first break point of the day. Anisimova tried to snap her two-handed return down the line, but could not control the Belarusian’s kick serve and sent her return long.
Resetting, Sabalenka banged her sixth ace for match point.
Successive forehand strikes helped Sabalenka close in 70 minutes as she raised her 2024 record to 8-1.
A disappointed Anisimova flung her racquet in frustration after it ended, but when she has time to reflect, the former world No. 21 should be both satisfied and encouraged by this major comeback. Anisimova showed the pure ball-striking skills she’s known for and has more than halved her ranking—she arrived in Melbourne ranked No. 442 and is now ranked No. 214.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka continues to make her mark on Melbourne—and her coaching team.
Continuing a trend she started in the first round, Sabalenka is signing her physio, Jason's, head before each match.
“Somehow I decided to start drawing my signature on his head," Sabalenk said. "I did it before the first match. Now it's a routine.
"Every time he's not super happy that I'm going to do that. He's like, Okay, anything for the win. I'm like, Thank you."