Fierce Aryna Sabalenka fends off determined Jessica Bouzas Maneiro for Australian Open victory

Aryna Sabalenka continues her winning streak at the Australian Open, securing a hard-fought victory against Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5. The two-time defending champion faced a determined opponent who paid little attention to the World No. 1's status, frequently putting her under pressure throughout the match.

Sabalenka now boasts seven consecutive wins, reaffirming her position as the top favourite in the women’s draw. She will face Clara Tauson (No. 42) in the third round.

Bouzas Maneiro pushes Sabalenka to the limit 

At the beginning, it seemed like a typical Sabalenka match as she took control with her serve and quickly secured a break to lead 2-0. However, she likely did not anticipate such a determined opponent as Bouzas Maneiro, who rose to the occasion to challenge the World No. 1.

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In a back-and-forth opening, the Spaniard earned two consecutive breaks, while Sabalenka responded with three to pull ahead 4-2. In the seventh game, Sabalenka secured another service game and, now more confident, established control for the remainder of the match. On the other hand, the World No. 54 showed character and delivered powerful baseline shots, often leaving Sabalenka flat-footed in rallies. Nevertheless, the defending champion claimed the set 6-3 after 45 minutes.

Bouzas Maneiro performed well in the rallies during the first set, although the service errors she committed proved costly. However, despite being behind on the scoreboard, the Spaniard didn't falter and raised her level, securing the first break in the second set and moving ahead 5-2 with a single break advantage.

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Even so, Sabalenka is a fighter who contests every point and didn’t give up on the set. After being down 2-5, she won 16 of the next 22 points, claiming four consecutive games and two breaks to take a 6-5 lead, holding serve to close out the match.

Both players contested entertaining points until the very last ball, but Sabalenka ultimately asserted her dominance to secure a more challenging win than expected by 6-3, 7-5, advancing to the third round. Sabalenka now boasts 16 consecutive victories at Melbourne Park and will face Clara Tauson in the Round of 32.

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