Sabalenka overcomes Potapova to progress in Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka navigated through moments of uneven performance on Friday to defeat Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7), securing her place in the fourth round of the Australian Open.
Sabalenka, aiming for her third Australian Open championship in four years, was ahead 6-5 and 40-0 in the first set, but Potapova saved all three set points, leading to a tiebreaker. Sabalenka initially took a 3-0 lead in the tiebreaker, but Potapova managed to equalize at 3-3.
Sabalenka had two additional set points and ultimately secured the set with a precise backhand down the line off Potapova’s second serve.
After falling behind 4-0 in the second set, Potapova mounted a comeback to level the score at 4-4, forcing another tiebreaker. Potapova had three set points to claim the set in the tiebreaker, but Sabalenka responded effectively under pressure.
“She played incredible tennis,” Sabalenka remarked about Potapova during her on-court television interview. “I was always on the back foot. There are days where you just have to fight and . . . it was such a fight.”
Sabalenka clinched the Australian Open title in 2023 and 2024 and was the runner-up last year to Madison Keys. She has also secured the US Open championship twice.
In other women’s matches, No. 17 Victoria Mboko triumphed over 14th-seeded Clara Tauson 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: espn.com
