To keep challengers at bay, a player must evolve. On Wednesday, the top seed did exactly that, shaking off a mid-match lull to defeat Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3, 6-1. Aryna Sabalenka Storms Into Australian Open Third Round. Sabalenka showcased a mix of patience and her trademark power, sprinkling in drop shots and serve-and-volley tactics to keep her opponent guessing.
Being the world No. 1 certainly has its perks for Aryna Sabalenka—think prime dinner reservations, luxury suites, and center-stage scheduling at the Australian Open. However, the two-time Melbourne Park champion knows all too well that staying at the top requires constant effort.
Evolving the Game Plan
Sabalenka admits that she wasn’t always open to changing her style.
“Not at all, not at all,” she confessed. “I was really strict with my game. I didn’t want to move one step, right or left.”
She credits her past struggles with double faults as the catalyst for her tactical growth. “I had no choice. I had to open up for something new with the serve. And then I realized, OK, maybe this is the way to improve… that time in my life, which was a disaster, actually really taught me a lot.”
Regarding her net play, she joked, “The serve-and-volley today didn’t really work well. I did one, OK at least one, that’s success. But I’m trying, I’m trying my best.”
This was the first matchup between Sabalenka and Bai, a former top-100 player battling back from injury. While Bai’s defensive skills helped her in the previous round, she couldn’t match Sabalenka’s firepower. The underdog found herself trailing 0-5 in just 15 minutes, unable to generate enough pace to counter the world No. 1.
Although Bai managed to claw back a few games late in the first set, Sabalenka regained her composure to stop the comeback.
Focusing on the Next Challenge
“There’s always a little gap to improve, but I’m happy that in that game… I didn’t lose it and I was focused,” Sabalenka said of the brief stumble.
She closed out the match in 74 minutes, setting up a third-round clash against either 28th seed Emma Raducanu or Anastasia Potapova. Despite holding undefeated records against both potential opponents, Sabalenka remains grounded.
“I never focus on the past. Doesn’t matter what the head-to-head looks like,” she stated. “It’s always a new match, always a new battle… when you go against the top-ranking player, you have nothing to lose so you play more free so they always bring the best battle, which I love.”
With this victory, Sabalenka recorded her 25th match win as world No. 1, joining an elite group of players—including Serena Williams and Ash Barty—to achieve this milestone since 2000. It is a fitting statistic for a champion determined to maintain her place at the summit of women’s tennis.
Saurabh is a passionate tennis content writer and lifelong fan of the game. Whether it’s Grand Slam showdowns or under-the-radar rising stars, Saurabh brings the court to life with sharp analysis, breaking news, and deep-dive features. When they aren’t covering matches, you can find them practicing their topspin forehand or debating who is the GOAT over coffee. Do you enjoy tennis? Then you are in the right place.
