Australian Open 2024: Aryna Sabalenka cruises to second straight title; Sinner, Medvedev set for men’s final

Aryna Sabalenka defended her title as the Australian Open champion after taking down Qinwen Zheng 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday. She was dominant through the entire tournament, winning a perfect 14 of 14 sets.

“I love you so much,” Sabalenka told the crowd at Rod Laver Arena, who is used to seeing her win. 

She won eight of the first nine points and held on to that control for the rest of the match. Sabalenka has now won 14 consecutive matches in Melbourne. With this victory, Sabalenka will keep her world No. 2 ranking, just behind Iga Swiatek who congratulated her on the victory. 

The Belarusian star’s dominance was impressive but not completely surprising. She has proved to be one of the top hard-court players, with 12 out of her 14 titles happening on hard courts, per ESPN. 

On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic’s undefeated streak in the Australian Open semifinals has come to an end. The 10-time champion reached his record-extending 48th Grand Slam semifinal with a 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win against American Taylor Fritz. He had won 32 consecutive matches at Melbourne before falling to Jannik Sinner. Sinner had beaten Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinal and now will appear in his first career Grand Slam final.

No. 3 Daniil Medvedev defeated No. 3 Alexander Zverev, 5-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3, to reach his sixth Grand Slam final. Medvedev has now reached the Australian Open final in three of the past four years.

Here is all you need to know about the 2024 Australian Open:

How to watch the 2024 Australian Open

• Dates: Jan. 13-27
• Where: Melbourne Park, Australia
• Watch: ESPN, ABC, Tennis Channel
• Stream: fubo (try for free)

Men’s seeding

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB)
2. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
3. Daniil Medvedev (N/A)
4. Jannik Sinner (ITA)
5. Andrey Rublev (N/A)
6. Alexander Zverev (GER)
7. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
8. Holger Rune (DEN)
9. Hubert Hurkacz (POL)
10. Alex De Minaur (AUS)
11. Casper Ruud (NOR)
12. Taylor Fritz (USA)
13. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
14. Tommy Paul (USA)
15. Karen Khachanov (N/A)
16. Ben Shelton (USA)
17. Frances Tiafoe (USA)
18. Nicolas Jarry (CHL)
19. Cameron Norrie (GBR)
20. Adrian Mannarino (FRA)
21. Ugo Humbert (FRA)
22. Francisco Cerundolo (ARG)
23. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)
24. Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
25. Lorenzo Musetti (ITA)
26. Sebastian Baez (ARG)
27. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
28. Tallon Griekspoor (NLD)
29. Sebastian Korda (USA)
30. Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG)
31. Alexander Bublik (KAZ)
32. Jiri Lehecka (CZE)

Women’s seeding

1. Iga Swiatek (POL)
2. Aryna Sabalenka (N/A)
3. Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
4. Coco Gauff (USA)
5. Jessica Pegula (USA)
6. Ons Jabeur (TUN)
7. Marketa Vondrousova (CZE)
8. Maria Sakkari (GRE)
9. Barbora Krejcikova (CZE)
10. Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA)
11. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
12. Qinwen Zheng (CHN)
13. Liudmila Samsonova (N/A)
14. Daria Kasatkina (N/A)
15. Veronika Kudermetova (N/A)
16. Caroline Garcia (FRA)
17. Ekaterina Alexandrova (N/A)
18. Victoria Azarenka (N/A)
19. Elina Svitolina (UKR)
20. Magda Linette (POL)
21. Donna Vekic (HRV)
22. Sorana Cirstea (ROU)
23. Anastasia Potapova (N/A)
24. Anhelina Kalinina (UKR)
25. Elise Mertens (BEL)
26. Jasmine Paolini (ITA)
27. Emma Navarro (USA)
28. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)
29. Zhu Lin (CHN)
30. Wang Xinyu (CHN)
31. Marie Bouzkova (CZE)
32. Leylah Fernandez (CAN)

Women’s final:

No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka def. No. 12 Qinwen Zheng 6-3, 6-2

Women’s semifinal matches:

• No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka def. No. 4 Coco Gauff, 7-6, 6-4
• No. 12 Qinwen Zheng def. Dayana Yastremska, 6-4, 6-4

Men’s semifinal matches:

No. 3 Daniil Medvedev vs. No. 4 Jannik Sinner

Men’s semifinal matches:

• No. 4 Jannik Sinner def. No. 1 Novak Djokovic, 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3
• No. 3 Daniil Medvedev def. No. 6 Alexander Zverev, 5-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3