Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff Advance in Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have advanced to the third round of the Australian Open, showcasing their remarkable skills on the court. Both players, who are among the top three seeds in the tournament, secured decisive victories on Wednesday.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Strong Performance
Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka faced Bai Zhouxuan of China at Rod Laver Arena. She won the match convincingly with a score of 6-3, 6-1. This victory adds to Sabalenka’s impressive record, having won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, while finishing as the runner-up last year against Madison Keys.
In her pursuit of a fifth Grand Slam title, Sabalenka demonstrated her skill by taking a 5-0 lead in the first set. Although she faced resistance from Bai, who employed effective drop shots, Sabalenka eventually closed the match after needing seven set points. “I was happy to get this win against a tricky opponent,” Sabalenka remarked post-match.
Next Match for Sabalenka
- Next opponent: Anastasia Potapova
- Potapova defeated Emma Raducanu (7th seed) with a score of 7-6(3), 6-2
Coco Gauff Advances Alongside Sabalenka
Meanwhile, No. 3 seed Coco Gauff played at Margaret Court Arena and defeated Olga Danilovic, a left-handed player, with a score of 6-2, 6-2. Gauff, who has yet to reach beyond the semifinals in Australia, holds Grand Slam titles from the French Open and US Open.
Other Notable Performances
A number of young players also made headlines on Wednesday. Teenagers Mirra Andreeva (No. 8), Victoria Mboko (17), and Iva Jovic (29) successfully advanced to the third round.
Additionally, 12th-seeded Elina Svitolina defeated Poland’s Linda Klimovicova with a score of 7-5, 6-1. Zeynep Sönmez of Turkey, who gained attention for her kindness to an ill ball girl in her first-round match, progressed after defeating Anna Bondar 6-2, 6-4. Sönmez expressed her joy, stating, “I felt like I was at home” due to the strong support from Melbourne’s Turkish community.
Record Attendance at the Australian Open
The Australian Open has also set a new attendance record, with 103,720 fans attending both day and night sessions. This marks the third full-day record in just four days of the main draw, illustrating the tournament’s growing popularity.
As the competition continues, fans eagerly await further matches featuring their favorite players, including Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, who are both in pursuit of prestigious titles at this year’s Australian Open.
