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Aryna Sabalenka earns congrats from tour "soulmate" Badosa, countrywoman Azarenka after Melbourne repeat

Sabalenka became the first woman to defend her Australian Open trophy since Azarenka herself, who lifted back-to-back trophies in 2012 and 2013.

ByBaseline Staff

Published Jan 27, 2024

MATCH POINT: A. Sabalenka def. Q. Zheng; Australian Open F

Aryna Sabalenka officially became a two-time Grand Slam champion after handing No. 12 seed Zheng Qinwen a lopsided 6-3, 6-2 defeat at the Australian Open on Sunday—fullfiling a promise to her late father to win multiple majors by the age of 25.

"I'm speechless right now," she told press afterward. "I don't know how to describe my emotions. But definitely I'm super, super happy and proud of everything I was able to achieve so far."

Along the way, Sabalenka became the first woman in over a decade to defend her title in Melbourne, when countrywoman Victoria Azarenka lifted back-to-back trophies in 2012 and 2013—and she did it without dropping a set. Azarenka was among the first players to take to social media to congratulate the newly minted champion, who will retain the WTA's world No. 2 ranking after her trip Down Under:

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"Bravo Aryna Sabalenka!" Azarenka wrote X, adding, "Just amazing! Congratulations, so fully deserved."

A constellation of former Grand Slam champions joined in on social media, including three-time Australian Open champion "Rocket" Rod Laver himself—the namesake of the court where Sabalenka just lifted the trophy:

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Check out even more social media shoutouts from the tennis world following Sabalenka's major victory—including from her WTA Tour "soulmate" Paula Badosa and Top 10 rival Ons Jabeur and more:

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