Australian Open Women’s Day 4

Aryna Sabalenka needed a comeback to preserve her untouchable Australian Open record, with the winner of the last two editions scratching out a 6-3, 7-5 win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to reach the third round on Wednesday.

The top seed  won her 16th consecutive match at Melbourne Park as she recovered from 2-5 down in the second set in 94 minutes.

She is bidding this fortnight to become the first to win three straight editions since Martina HIngis 1997-1999.

Sabalenka wrapped up victory with 26 winners and 27 unforced errors as she battled her way out of a tight spot.

“I’m super happy to have finished this match in straight sets. She played incredible tennis, especially in the second set. 

“I’m really happy I was able to turn around that set,” the top seed said..

Sabalenka now takes on Dane Clara Tauson, who beat Tatjana Maria 6-2, 6-2.

2024 runner-up Zheng Qinwen, who lost to Sabalenka here a year ago in the final, was stunned by German Laura Siegemund 7-6 (3), 6-3.

The Chinese fifth seed, who won the Paris Olympic gold medal last summer, went down in two and a quarter hours to the 97th-ranked Siegemund.despite firing 11 aces.

Siegemund, at age 36, is the second-oldest woman in the draw and is playing her 27th Grand Slam.

“I feel maybe today was not my day. There’s a lot of details in the important points,” Zheng said.

“I didn’t do the right choice. That’s all I can say.”

She said that a call for a time violation in the second set weighed on her to the end after saying she could not see the shot clock in her field of vision at the time of the infraction.

“That one really distracted me from the match. It’s also the first time I’ve had this situation in four years on the Tour.”

She said the match got out of her control in the opening stages. “I had a chance in the first set to break her. I just gave too many unforced errors.

“In the tiebreak I felt I didn’t give that extra energy, extra strength. Today was generally difficult for me.”

No. 7 Jessica Pegula, who helped the US to the United Cup this month, dispatched Belgian veteran Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2 after entering the match with three losses in the series.

The American who played last weekend’s Adelaide final hit 24 winners and 10 10 unforced errors to advance.

Pegula had no problems with playing the first match of the day.

“I think we started at 11:30, I like being first on. you can have a set schedule. You don’t have to wait.

“I definitely don’t have to wait for any men’s matches, especially being at a Slam.

“You don’t have this lingering anxiety waiting throughout the day of what’s going to happen, all this stuff.

“I always love being kind of first on and done.”

Teenaged 14th seed Mirra Andreeva spent nearly two and a quarter hours in putting out Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8).

“It was tough, but I‘m just really happy with the outcome. I’m really happy with the way I managed to come back in the third set.

i”I’s always tough when you don’t really know the opponent. I’ve never played her, never practiced with her.

“I would say that I had a lot of mistakes today. I’m just happy that I managed to win in the end.”

Former WTA No. 4 Belinda Bencic continued to storm through her return to tennis after giving birth, with the Swiss defeating Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands 6-1, 7-6 (3).

Bencic said conditions on a day of changing weather proved to be challenging.

“(It was about) the swirling wind and the weather changes and about the rain. 

“But , the (side) court was tough for me also, because it’s just, like, blasting music there and people having beers and chatting. 

“I was focusing a lot to not let it (all) distract me. Sometimes you pick up, like, one voice, and you just cannot, like, un-hear it.” 

“I  just really tried to focus on myself, not listen to the music … I think I managed today.”

Two-time champion Naomi Osaka came through in a comeback, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 over Czech Karolina Muchova.