Aryna Sabalenka’s love affair with the Australian Open shows no signs of slowing down. The world number one delivered yet another commanding performance in Melbourne, brushing aside Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3, 6-1 to march into the third round and continue her remarkable dominance at the Happy Slam.

With the victory over Bai, she has now won 22 of her last 23 matches at the AO, improving her 2026 record to a flawless 7-0 and reaching the third round in Melbourne for the seventh time. In Brisbane, she spoke about how much she loves coming to this part of the world. Yet again, there was plenty of support for her during her second-round match. After the match, Sabalenka was asked about the growing number of young fans who look up to her, particularly after posters, “Hear The Roar,” caught the broadcast’s attention. Responding to a question from Andrea Petkovic, Sabalenka spoke with visible emotion.

“It’s incredible. I see all the posters, even though I have to be focused on the match. But then on the screen, they show these beautiful posters. The creativity is there. Thank you so much, guys. It means a lot to me. I always wanted to inspire the next generation. I wanted to be someone they look up to. You’re actually inspiring me. Thank you so much for bringing these posters and supporting me, guys,” she said in her on-court interview.

For someone like Aryna Sabalenka, that energy from the stands is also her biggest source of inspiration. Previously, in an instance, when she was asked whether she draws motivation from music or movies, the Belarusian made her priorities clear. Seeing the next generation cheering for her, she said, is what truly fuels her fire.

That desire to inspire has been a consistent theme throughout her career. Sabalenka has spoken openly about growing up without idols, even when comparisons to Serena Williams surfaced at a very young age.

While she admits she admires Serena Williams’ era of dominance, Aryna Sabalenka insists her journey was always inward-focused. “I didn’t have any idols. I don’t know if it’s good or bad because everyone was inspired by someone, and I want to be an inspiration for the next generation. I think that’s the goal in life,” she said during an interview in August 2025.

Her results back up that mindset. Since 2000, only Serena Williams (26) and Iga Swiatek (27) have reached 25 Grand Slam match wins as WTA No. 1, fewer matches than Sabalenka (28), a statistic that underlines just how elite her run at the top has been.

As Aryna Sabalenka continues her march through Melbourne, she is doing more than chasing titles. With every dominant performance and every emotional exchange with fans, she is steadily becoming the figure she once aspired to be. But what did Sabalenka say about this duel against the Chinese qualifier in the second round of the 2026 AO?

Aryna Sabalenka narrates the tiny scare in the first set of this second-round duel at the 2026 AO

Aryna Sabalenka looked untouchable early on, racing through the first five games in just 15 minutes and appearing set for a routine victory. But the momentum shifted when Bai, ranked world number 702, found her rhythm inside Rod Laver Arena. The next three games dragged on, with Bai using impressive rally tolerance and variety to frustrate the top seed and briefly turn the opening set into a contest.

Reflecting on that moment after the match, Sabalenka admitted she was momentarily unsure how to respond. “She really stepped up in the first set, and for a minute, I was like, 'What should I do? She's crushing it. I'm so happy that I was able to close that set. I think it gave me a little more confidence that my game was there ... I'm super happy with the win.”

Further on, the Belarusian revealed how she relied on self-talk to steady herself during the wobble. “There are always things to improve, but I'm happy that I didn't lose that game, and I was focused. I was trying to tell myself, 'One at a time, it's OK, it's going to come back, you're OK, keep fighting, keep trying,' and I'm glad I did it well.”

Serving at deuce in the ninth game, Aryna Sabalenka leaned on her biggest weapon. Two unreturnable serves handed her a seventh set point, and she converted moments later to finally shut the door on the opening set. From there, the match followed a familiar script. Sabalenka raised her level, dominated the second set, and wrapped up the contest in 1 hour and 12 minutes.

The victory once again highlighted her ability to win matches she is expected to win. Sabalenka has not lost to a player outside the Top 100 in more than three years. She has now also won 45 of her last 50 sets at the AO, placing her in elite company alongside Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, and Serena Williams.

Speaking about this incredible statistic, Aryna Sabalenka said, “That sounds crazy and surreal to be honest. I never thought that people will compare me to these names even though I’m really far away from their achievements. It motivates me to keep doing my thing. And it just means for me that I’m on the right way.”

Among active players to have played at least 10 matches, Sabalenka currently holds the highest singles win percentage on Grand Slam hard courts at 84.2 percent. She will now face Austria’s Anastasia Potapova in the third round. 

But despite having a 2-0 record against Potapova, Sabalenka says it’s always a new match, always a new battle, since every player is getting better with time. Do you think Potapova can cause a few troubles for Sabalenka in this match, though?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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