Tennis - Sabalenka overpowers China's Zheng to retain Australian Open crown

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 27, 2024 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka kisses the trophy to celebrate winning the final against China's Qinwen Zheng REUTERS/Issei Kato

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Aryna Sabalenka continued to be an irrepressible force at the Australian Open as she powered to a 6-3 6-2 victory over Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen on Saturday to successfully defend her title and add a second Grand Slam trophy to her cabinet.

The Belarusian second seed has barely put a foot wrong at what has turned into her happiest hunting ground as she became the first woman to retain the Melbourne Park crown since compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2013.