The Dane Clara Tauson stretched out and also had some help from Sabalenka herself, who had obvious problems, primarily with her own serve.
The conditions are quite tough for the server. You don't get as many advantages as usual. The balls are "heavy" and the courts slow, complained Sabalenka afterwards.
She won the match with 7–6 (7–5), 6–4.
Sabalenka from Belarus is otherwise the favorite to take her third straight victory in Melbourne, where world number two Iga Swiatek from Poland is seen as the main opponent. The two can, however, meet at the earliest in a potential final.
If Sabalenka succeeds in winning her third straight title, it would be the first time this has happened since Martina Hingis from Switzerland achieved this feat 26 years ago.
Third-seeded Coco Gauff advanced in two straight sets – 6–4, 6–2 – against Canadian Leylah Fernandez.
Gauff has not yet lost a set in this year's first eight matches and is thus living up to the favorite expectations in Melbourne. In total, Gauff has twelve straight wins.
The American lost last year to Sabalenka in the semifinal, and as the draw looks, a new semifinal awaits if both reach that far.
Next up is Belinda Bencic.
