"Improved discipline, fitness and shotmaking": Chris Evert lauds Aryna Sabalenka after Australian Open final win

Former world number one Chris Evert heaps praise on Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka after her triumph at the Australian Open 2024.

The 25-year-old successfully defended her title in the first Grand Slam of the year after beating China’s young sensation Qinwen Zheng in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2.

She won the Australian Open title in 2023 as well, which was her maiden Grand Slam title, where she defeated the current world number three Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina with a score of 4–6, 6–3, 6–4.

While doing so, Sabalenka became the fifth player in the last 24 years to win the Australian Open title in the women’s singles category without dropping a set.

Evert, who is often regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of women’s tennis in the singles category after having won as many as 18 Grand Slam titles in her illustrious career, praised the current world number while congratulating her in a post on social media platform X — previously known as Twitter.

“Congratulations @SabalenkaA and your team on winning your second @AustralianOpen showing improved discipline, fitness and shotmaking! (Oh,and consistency!🤷‍♀️) and #Qinwen ,you are just starting an incredible journey 👍👏. A win-win!,” she wrote.