Aryna Sabalenka has won through to her first Australian Open quarter-final and is well poised for a charge to the women’s singles title at Melbourne Park.
The world No.5 was pushed by Swiss Belinda Bencic on Monday, but the Belarusian grew in confidence through the fourth-round clash to triumph 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 27 minutes.
Victorious: Aryna Sabalenka is through to the quarter-finals.Credit:Getty Images
“I’m super happy with the win today,” Sabalenka said on court.
The aggressive Sabalenka stepped up in the decisive stage of the first set, breaking Bencic when leading 6-5 to gain the ascendancy.
The three-time major semi-finalist reflected on her improved composure.
“It [has taken] … me a little while to understand that negative emotions don’t help me on court,” she said.
“I’m just super happy with ‘my inside’ during the game today.”
Sabalenka will play the winner of the round of 16 clash between Donna Vekic and Linda Fruhvirtova in the quarter-finals.
MORE TO COME
