Novak Djokovic sends congratulations to Aryna Sabalenka after Australian Open triumph as Qinwen Zheng also receives plaudits

Novak Djokovic sent his congratulations to Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng after the 2024 Australian Open Women's Final go back-to-back, only eight now behind Djokovic's record breaking haul after the Serbian lost to Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals.

Sabalenka protected her throne with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Zheng in just over 75 minutes, with many quick to applaud Sabalenka, but Djokovic also sent his congratulations the way of the Chinese ace who will break the top ten next week and was in her first ever Grand Slam final putting in a sterling display considering the level of opponent she previously faced en route to the title hawked by many big names heading out of the tournament early.

"Congratulations," the Serb wrote on his Instagram story, adding a tiger and trophy emoji to his post to which Sabalenka replied 'thank you' in reposting the story.

"Amazing tournament. More to come," he wrote in response to Qinwen Zheng's run to the final. It was very much completing an ambition in many ways for Sabalenka who said she wanted to win multiple Grand Slams to her father before he passed and she did and also she didn't want to be a one-slam wonder.

"It's been on my mind that I didn't want to be that player who wins it and then disappears. I just wanted to show that I'm able to be consistently there and I'm able to win another one," she said.
"I really hope that more, [I win] more than two [Grand Slams] right now, but for me [it] was really important. That's why, no matter what the result, win or lose, we are always working hard, we always looking for things to improve in my game," she added.