China’s Zheng Qinwen suffered a shock defeat in the second round of the Australian Open on Wednesday, falling to unseeded Italian Martina Trevisan in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Meanwhile, second seed Aryna Sabalenka survived a stern test to edge past Poland’s Magda Linette 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, keeping her title hopes alive in a dramatic day at Melbourne Park.
Trevisan upsets Zheng
Zheng, a rising star and the 11th seed, entered the tournament as one of the favourites to make a deep run, but her campaign came to a sudden halt against the tenacious Trevisan. The Italian’s defensive prowess and tactical variety kept Zheng off balance throughout the match.
After an evenly contested first set, Trevisan seized the crucial break at 5-4, capitalising on Zheng’s unforced errors to claim the opener. The second set saw Zheng rally from 2-5 down to level at 5-5, but Trevisan held her nerve to break again and close out the match.
“I’m so happy with this win. Zheng is such a great player, but I just focused on my game and stayed strong in the important moments,” Trevisan said after her victory.
Sabalenka’s grit shines
In stark contrast, Aryna Sabalenka faced a gruelling battle against Magda Linette, requiring three sets to secure her spot in the third round. The Belarusian, last year’s Australian Open runner-up, showcased her trademark power in the first set, breaking Linette twice to take it 6-3.
Linette, however, responded brilliantly in the second set, using her precise groundstrokes and court coverage to frustrate Sabalenka. The Pole broke twice to force a decider.
The final set was a tense affair, with both players holding serve until Sabalenka broke at 6-5 to clinch the match after over two hours of intense play.
“I’m happy to get through that one,” Sabalenka admitted post-match. “Magda played unbelievable tennis, and I had to dig deep and stay mentally tough. It’s matches like these that make you stronger.”
With Zheng’s exit, the women’s draw sees another surprise, while Sabalenka’s resilience keeps her firmly in the hunt for glory at Melbourne Park.
