Zheng exits after a second-round loss to unseeded Siegemund while Osaka battles former champion Sabalenka.
Zheng Qinwen became the first big name to be eliminated from the Australian Open women’s singles draw after the Olympic champion was knocked out by Laura Siegemund and top seed Aryna Sabalenka suffered bad weather before progressing past her second-round match.
Jessica Pegula, who lost to Sabalenka in last year’s US Open final, advanced safely, while Tokyo Olympic champion Belinda Bencic advanced after a fourth day of brief rain delayed play on an outdoor court.
China’s Zheng tried to emulate Li Na’s 2014 triumph at Melbourne Park, but her hopes were dashed at the John Cain Arena. At John Cain Arena, unseeded German Siegemund pulled out a surprising 7-6(3), 6-3 victory.
The fifth seed left the court looking on the verge of tears, while world number 97 Siegemund was beaming after his famous victory.
“I knew I had to play more than the best tennis I had. I told myself I had to swing freely because I had nothing to lose.” Siegemund said on the court.
“She is an amazing player and one of the best players out there right now. But I knew I could play and I wanted to put up a tough fight.”
Zheng said today is not her day.
“I had a lot of chances to break her in the first set, but maybe I lacked concentration in that moment,” said the 22-year-old.
“At the same time, I felt like she was playing really well. It’s nothing more than tennis.”
Sabalenka is bidding to become the first woman to win three successive titles at Melbourne Park since Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999. The Belarusian beat Jessica Buzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5, but she didn’t get everything her way. .
After taking the first two games of the match at the Rod Laver Arena easily, Sabalenka took a 5-2 lead after trading breaks twice with the world No. 54 player and closed out the opening set on serve. I did it.
The three-time Grand Slam champion’s serve came under extreme pressure in the next set and she was down 4-1 when an inspired Bouzas Maneiro began hitting stinging winners on either side of the court.
Sabalenka found a spark somewhere and fought back to level at 5-5 at 5-2, firing a backhand winner to break again in the next game before wrapping up the contest to extend her winning streak at hardcourt majors to 16.
“She played amazing tennis today and it was a really tough match,” Sabalenka said.
“I mean, I’m really happy that I was able to win this match because I expected this tennis from her.
“In the second set… After 5-2, I didn’t rush it too much and thought, ‘Okay, anyway, let’s leave this second set and move on.’ And yes, I was able to get it back.
“I’m very happy to win in straight sets, especially against someone like her who makes you work in every regard.”
American seventh seed Pegula beat Belgian Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2 at Margaret Court Arena, while Bencic defeated Suzan Lamens 6-6 after Olga Danilovic stunned 25th seed Liudmila Samsonova 6-1, 6-2. -1, won 7-6(3).
Former world number one Osaka, who was Australian champion in 2019 and 2021 but is currently unseeded, defeated 20th seed Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
