World number one Aryna Sabalenka fought through a challenging match against Denmark’s Clara Tauson to secure her place in the last 16 of the Australian Open 2025. The match, played on Friday (January 17) at the iconic Rod Laver Arena, lasted over two hours, with Sabalenka ultimately prevailing 7-5, 6-4 in a hard-fought contest.
Tauson, who had recently captured the Auckland Open title after Naomi Osaka’s retirement from the final, was full of confidence heading into the match. The 21-year-old proved a tough opponent for Sabalenka, breaking her serve four times in the opening set. Despite this, Tauson was unable to capitalize on her opportunities, as she squandered four set points on Sabalenka’s serve. Sabalenka took advantage of the missed chances, forcing the set into a tiebreak, where she edged out the Dane to take the first set 7-5.
The second set saw Sabalenka come out strong, breaking Tauson early and building a 2-0 lead. Tauson, however, wasn’t ready to give up, and she broke back to level the set at 2-2. But Sabalenka, who is the defending champion in Melbourne, quickly responded, breaking Tauson again and never looking back. As the match progressed into the final game, Tauson had a break point at 40-30, with a chance to extend the match. However, Sabalenka's class and determination showed, as she hit a stunning backhand winner to secure the victory and seal her place in the next round.
With this win, Sabalenka extends her remarkable streak, becoming the first player to reach the last 16 in the women’s singles at the Australian Open for five consecutive seasons, a feat not achieved since Simona Halep between 2018 and 2022. Sabalenka’s consistency at the Grand Slam level is highlighted by her 13th appearance in the round of 16 at major tournaments since 2020, putting her behind only Iga Swiatek, who has reached the same stage 15 times in that period.
Looking ahead, Sabalenka will face either Magdalena Frech or teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in the next round. The Belarusian has history with both opponents. She lost to Andreeva in the semi-finals at Roland-Garros 2024 but managed to overcome the Russian in her title run at Brisbane earlier this month.
This victory cements Sabalenka’s status as one of the most dominant players on the WTA Tour, with her powerful game and mental toughness making her a formidable opponent for anyone. As the tournament progresses, Sabalenka will aim to continue her strong form and build on her Australian Open success, where she has become a consistent contender in recent years.
