Sabalenka powers through at Australian Open; Avanesyan upsets Sakkari

No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka
No.107-ranked Fruhvirtova was one of three 16-year-olds to have made Round 2, the most at any Grand Slam since the 2005 US Open. Earlier on Wednesday, another of those, Mirra Andreeva
However, the defending champion has been reliable in matches where she's been the heavy favorite of late. Sabalenka has now won 34 of her past 36 matches, dating back to July 2019, against opponents ranked outside the Top 100. The only exceptions in this stretch were both former Top 20 players, Kaia Kanepi at the 2022 Australian Open and Sofia Kenin
How the match was won: Against the Czech teenager, Sabalenka navigated some tight early moments before taking control with a mid-match streak of seven straight games.
Though Fruhvirtova went down an early break after a pair of nervy double faults, she showed her promise when she found a smart wrong-footing backhand winner to break Sabalenka back and level at 2-2. That wing also garnered Fruhvirtova a pair of pinpoint winners down the line in the closing stretch of the match.
For @SabalenkaA and her ruby slippers there's no place like Rod Laver Arena.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2024
The defending #AusOpen champion clicks her heels and is through to the third round.
She accounts for 16-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova 6-3 6-2.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/y4mufPDTy7
In between, though, Sabalenka was rampant. She thumped 30 winners, including four aces, outweighing her 22 unforced errors. Quick to come forward whenever Fruhvirtova threw up a high defensive shot, Sabalenka also won 10 out of 12 net points, and effectively moved Fruhvirtova off court with sharp angles as well as raw power.
She will next face No.28 seed Lesia Tsurenko
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In Sabalenka's words: "She's incredible player for someone 16 years old. I mean, I think first six games was really great level, then I kind of step in and start playing little bit better.
"I'm not thinking about confidence. I'm just trying to play my best. If it goes to two sets, I'm happy to win it in two sets. If it's going to be three sets, I don't care. I just try to focus on myself and fight for every point. It's not like these two matches give me confidence. It's tennis. You have to be ready for anything."
Elina Avanesyan
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2024View Profile reaches the third round of her maiden #AusOpen!
The 21-year-old upsets No.8 seed Maria SakkariView Profile 6-4 6-4 to advance.
She'll face Marta KostyukView Profile in the next round.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/FExvDOBHkL
Avanesyan upsets Sakkari, Kostyuk saves match point
No.74-ranked Elina Avanesyan
Avanesyan had scored a nomination for Newcomer of the Year in last month's Hologic WTA Tour Awards, having reached the last 16 of Roland Garros as a lucky loser. The 21-year-old delivered a composed, intelligent performance to notch her first career Top 10 win over Sakkari, who has fallen in the first week of her past eight majors.
Mixing up high defensive shots with sudden injections of pace and slice, Avanesyan kept Sakkari pinned far behind the baseline and was largely able to play the match on her own terms. The Greek player was unable to consistently read Avanesyan's change-ups or stay on the front foot herself, and committed 43 unforced errors in total.
Awwwww, look at what it means to @marta_kostyuk!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2024
She reached the third round in 2022 and 2023 - and she's done it again in 2024, rallying from a set down to defeat Elise MertensView Profile 5-7 6-1 7-6[6]#AusOpen • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/WzrKTbciat
Avanesyan will next face Marta Kostyuk
Photos: 2024's wins from match point down
The 2-hour, 53-minute tilt was the longest of Day 4, and featured an array of hot shots as both players pulled off miraculous gets, charged the net at every opportunity and deployed all manner of creative shotmaking. No.37-ranked Kostyuk returns to the Australian Open third round for a third consecutive year.
Mertens' loss means that a first-time Australian Open semifinalist is now guaranteed in the third quarter of the draw. US Open champion Coco Gauff