Australian Open 2024 women's final preview: Qinwen Zheng's 'destiny' or Aryna Sabalenka to emulate Victoria Azarenka?

Published 26/01/2024 at 17:23 GMT

Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng are this year's women's singles finalists at the Australian Open, and they have had their say on their upcoming meeting. For Sabalenka it is a third major final in a year, while for China's Zheng, it is a chance to emulate Li Na, 10 years on from her compatriot's win. Stream the 2024 Australian Open finals live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com.

'The feeling is incredible' - Zheng achieves one of her 'dreams' in reaching final

A total of 128 players began the 2024 Australian Open, but that number has been whittled down to two, as finalists Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng eye Grand Slam success to start their year.

The pair will step out onto Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night to do battle for the second time in as many majors, having met in the quarter-finals of last year's US Open.

Sabalenka has undoubtedly been the leading light in this year's edition, blasting her way to the final without dropping a set, including a fine win over Coco Gauff in the last four.

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Zheng, with lesser experience on such a stage, has nonetheless fully merited her arrival in the showpiece to back up her showing at Flushing Meadows last summer.

"I believe in the destiny," Zheng said ahead of her impending tussle with Sabalenka.

"I try to not let other things affect me, even if destiny.

"You know, when everything is working well, I believe in the destiny."

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She added, jokingly: "But if the destiny doesn't go on my side, I don't believe that at all. Only depends where destiny goes."

Zheng, yet to face a seed in her run to the final, is just 21, and at the beginning of a career that has shown promise with two WTA Tour titles in 2023.

Looking ahead to the match-up with Sabalenka, she said: "I'm sure the final will be really competitive, because I think Sabalenka, she's one of the, I would say, most big hitters right now in the tour.

"She got the most big serve, most big forehand, big backhand. She's [a] really complete player.

"I haven't faced big seeds all the past rounds and she will be the first one I will face.

"But, you know, is a match, so let's see what gonna happen the final there."

In some symmetry, Zheng has reached the Australian Open final 10 years to the day after compatriot Li Na won her only title in Melbourne.

"She [Li] means a lot I think for all the Chinese kids in the same age like me," Zheng added. "Because I think she's the first one who won the slams.

"I mean, that's unbelievable for Asian women in that moment. Then she gives a lot of hope, in that moment, to young kids like me. I think she means a lot for everyone."

Sabalenka 'not going crazy' ahead of third major final

Sabalenka is into her third major final, not just of her career, but of the past 12 months, having won in Melbourne last year, and then having lost to Gauff in the US Open final back in September.

That bulk of experience, she feels, will help her to be "calm" ahead of the chance to not just retain her AO crown, but also emulate fellow Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, who was the last back-to-back winner of the event in 2012 and 2013.

"I would say emotionally I'll be very ready to fight," Sabalenka said. "Not going crazy.

"Because when you play first [major] final you kind of like get emotional and rushing things sometimes.

'It's not a goal to be in the final, the goal is to win' - Sabalenka ahead of Australian Open finale

"When you're like third time in the finals, you're, like, OK, it's a final, it's OK. It's just another match, and you're able to separate yourself from that thing. Just focus on your game. That's it, actually.

"I think I'm pretty calm inside like I am outside. I'm defending champion, but worst case, I'm, like, OK, I'm going to lose this tournament, and it's less points to defend next year. Then that's it.

"That's kind of like helping me to just stay focused and just try your best in each match without thinking about defending something."

On the threat posed by Zheng, the No. 2 seed added: "I think her forehand is really heavy. And she's moving well also. Fighting for every point. I think her forehand is really her best shot.

"She [has] played really great tennis, putting her opponents under pressure, playing really aggressive tennis, and I think that's why she's in top 10 [following this tournament]."