Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen said at the Australian Open Friday that she is getting “closer and closer” to Aryna Sabalenka, having been well beaten in last year’s final by the big-hitting Belarusian. The 22-year-old Chinese lost her first major final 6-3, 6-2.

Aryna Sabalenka will bid for a third Australian Open title in succession as if she was going for her first, having dropped the defending champion mindset to great success last year. The world number o

Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka begin their Australian Open title defences in the next few days and will look to avoid a shock early exit. In the Open Era, three defending champions have lost in round one of the tournament,