Commentator blown away by 'wonderful' star

1 year ago 61

Jelena Dokic has pinned Aryna Sabalenka arsenic the favourite for this year's Australian Open aft her "measured" consecutive sets triumph implicit Belinda Bencic.

A objective show against the Swiss prima has earned the Belarusian a 4th last berth and different changeable astatine a maiden singles expansive slam win.

The forthcoming 4th last is arsenic acold arsenic Sabalenka has gone astatine the Australian Open, having antecedently been stopped successful the 4th circular successful 2021 and 2022.

LIVE UPDATES: Australian Open 2023 time 8 highlights

Her latest tally has drawn praise from erstwhile satellite No.4 and Nine commentator Jelena Dokic, who hailed the 24-year-old's form.

Sabalenka came into this year's Australian Open disconnected the backmost of triumph astatine the Adelaide International wherever she bushed Linda Noskova.

"It was a wonderful, measured performance, wasn't it," said Dokic of Sabalenka's triumph implicit Bencic.

"Not overmuch that Bencic could bash astir that. And decidedly immoderate of the champion tennis that we person seen Sabalenka play, particularly successful the past 12 months. But I would adjacent accidental her career.

"If she continues similar this, not conscionable the favourite here, but decidedly favourite astatine immoderate expansive slam that she present plays in."

Watch the Australian Open unrecorded and escaped connected the Nine Network: Channel 9, 9Gem and 9NOW.

Match Highlights: Aryna Sabalenka v Belinda Bencic

Sabalenka said she was "super happy" with her level, which was yet excessively bully for Bencic.

"Difficult lucifer for me, for sure," said Bencic.

"I thought I had a fewer chances there, but against her, of course, you person to instrumentality truly each accidental you get.

"Today, I felt similar I couldn't grip her power. I deliberation that was the biggest difference. But still, you know, I don't consciousness similar this is simply a truly atrocious loss.

"Like, she's for definite precise successful signifier close present and besides playing precise good. So I'm not discouraged, I'm not ace devastated aft this loss.

"I consciousness similar I had a large commencement of the year. I consciousness similar I conscionable privation to spell backmost and enactment harder and travel back.

"So I'm inactive precise motivated to conscionable proceed to play my adjacent tournaments and conscionable proceed my luck astatine the expansive slams."

Sabalenka volition look the victor of Monday's circular of 16 lucifer featuring Donna Vekic and Linda Fruhvirtova.

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