Sabalenka vs Rogers: Aryna Sabalenka advanced into the 3rd round after defeating a challenging adversary in straight sets on Thursday, demonstrating why she would be looked at seriously as a contender for the Australian Open. On Rod Laver Arena, the Belarusian defeated American Shelby Rogers, who ranked 51st, 6-3/ 6-1 in 1 hour and 27 minutes. In their previous two meetings, both in the previous year, Sabalenka prevailed in both, the most recent being a three-set, 2 hours, and 35 minutes long marathon on artificial surfaces in Cincinnati. In a 54-minute inaugural set on Thursday, however, was barely a crucial 8th game dividing the 2 once more.
At Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka defeated Rogers 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the 3rd stage in Melbourne for the 3rd consecutive year. In the encounter, which spanned 1 hour and 27 minutes, she registered 32 wins, more than double Rogers’ 17 victories.
Shelby’s dominant serving didn’t hamper Sabalenka
Sabalenka vs Rogers: Shelby’s service went to 5 deuces until Sabalenka‘s rustling crosscourt forehand and set up a 3rd break opportunity. She made the conversion for a 5-3 advantage and served the set to love during Sabalenka vs Rogers encounter. At the beginning of the 2nd set, Sabalenka continued to put stress on Shelby’s serve, breaking for a 2-1 advantage.
This time last year, Sabalenka’s weakness had been fixed, and on Thursday, it was one of her most effective tools. She won 74% of 1st-serve points and didn’t commit a major blunder.
Sabalenka vs Rogers: Sabalenka’s aggressive play
Sabalenka vs Rogers: Aryna Sabalenka ended the Sabalenka vs Rogers match with 13 forehand and 14 backhand triumphs while limiting her unforced fault total to 18. Sabalenka’s calibrated aggressiveness still had plenty of impacts.
As Shelby decided to break twice increasingly, the Belarusian, who was now feeling more assured, pelted Shelby with wins from both wings and slammed in a backhand crosscourt lob on Shelby’s opening match point. Sabalenka, who advanced to the US Open semifinals last year, won the game conceding a set, extending her 2023 undefeated streak to 6 matches.
Sabalenka vs Rogers: Sabalenka to face Mertens or Davis in the next round
Aryna Sabalenka will encounter either American Lauren Davis or Belgian 26th seed Elise Mertens in the round of 16. Hoping to grab through the round of 16 at the Australian Open for the 1st time. After winning the Adelaide International 1 championship previously this month, the 24-year-old is off to a perfect start this year. Sabalenka has won her opening 6 encounters of the season twice in the past 3 seasons, most recently in 2021.
Despite having a strong beginning to the season and saving about 80% of the break points she encountered. Rogers was still able to capitalize early during Sabalenka vs Rogers contest. Grabbing a 3-1 advantage in the initial set that was full of drawn-out games. However, Sabalenka rallied after losing her composure and won 5 straight games to retake the advantage in the set.
Sabalenka vs Rogers: Shelby Rogers to now compete in the doubles category
Sabalenka vs Rogers: In the 2nd set, Sabalenka saved a break point and held for a 1-1 tie by slamming a backhand smash. From that point on, Sabalenka was unaffected and won the match with a backhand crosscourt shot.
The 30-year-old Rogers currently focuses on her quest in women’s doubles with Irina-Camelia Begu. Initially, up, they compete against Giuliana Olmos and Gabriela Dabrowski.
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