‘Crazy, surreal’ as Aryna Sabalenka moves ominously on in Melbourne

MELBOURNE – Top seed Aryna Sabalenka called her Australian Open record “crazy and surreal” after beating tricky Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan to reach the third round on Jan 21.

The world No. 1 saw off Bai 6-3, 6-1, having threatened at one stage to complete the job in even more express fashion.

The 27-year-old next faces Russia-born Austrian Anastasia Potapova – who dispatched 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 – as the Belarusian chases a third Melbourne crown in four years.

Sabalenka was stunned in the final 12 months ago by Madison Keys but otherwise has been almost unbeatable on the Melbourne Park hard courts since 2023.

“That sounds crazy and surreal, to be honest,” she said, when it was put to her that her Australian Open record in recent years was up there with the likes of Serena Williams and Steffi Graf.

“Just never thought that people will kind of like compare me to these names, even though I’m really far away from their achievements. Of course it sounds incredible... it motivates me to keep doing my thing. It just means for me that I’m on the right track.”

Sabalenka won the first nine points in a row to surge into a 2-0 lead at Rod Laver Arena against her outclassed opponent ranked 702nd in the world.

After just eight minutes it was 3-0, then 5-0. But the 23-year-old Bai worked through her nerves and finally held serve. She then stunned centre court by breaking Sabalenka’s serve to reduce the deficit to 5-2 and doggedly held her own serve for 5-3.

Sabalenka finally got the job done, slamming a ball she was holding down on the court in a flash of anger.

The second set was more serene, Sabalenka’s superior power taking its toll as she sealed the match in 72 minutes.

“Tricky opponent,” added the Belarusian.

“Super happy to close the (first) set. It gives me confidence that my game is there, my focus is there. Step by step. There is always a little gap to improve.”

Third seed Coco Gauff, meanwhile, took 78 minutes to blast past Venus Williams’ conqueror Olga Danilovic and into the third round.

The 21-year-old emphatically won the first five games to stamp her authority on the contest and cruised home 6-2, 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena.

It set up a showdown next against fellow American Hailey Baptiste, ranked 70th, who downed home hope Storm Hunter in straight sets.

Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka said that she is “a little strange” but does not care after an audacious jellyfish-inspired fashion statement at the Australian Open went viral.

The Japanese superstar emerged at Rod Laver Arena for her first-round clash on Jan 20 carrying a white parasol with matching wide-brimmed hat and long gauzy veil.

It was complemented by a sleeveless turquoise dress over pleated white trousers.

“Honestly, I realise I’m a little strange because I don’t really think I care,” the four-time Grand Slam winner, 28, said in response to her outfit. “For me, I just feel like I want to do things that create joy and happiness.

“For me, obviously I really love fashion. That makes me excited to wake up and do the whole, like, walk-on or whatever. It just creates a little bit more joy in that whole match preparation.”

Almost at the same time Osaka walked on court, Vogue magazine ran an interview with her where she explained what it called her “exoskeletal look”.

On Jan 20, she battled past Antonia Ruzic of Croatia 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 and will next meet Romania’s Sorana Cirstea. AFP, REUTERS