When Sabalenka received in Melbourne final yr, remodelling her serve to keep away from the double faults which had plagued her – and dealing with a psychologist – had been key components behind the success.
The 25-year-old Belarusian continued to develop over the remainder of the 2023 season, turning into probably the most constant girls’s participant on the Grand Slams.
Sabalenka went on to achieve a minimum of the semi-finals on the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, dropping within the ultimate of the latter to American teenager Coco Gauff after profitable the primary set.
Returning to Melbourne, the expertise of already having received added an additional layer of perception she may do it once more.
Sabalenka dropped simply 16 video games on her strategy to the semi-finals – the place she then exacted revenge on Gauff in straight units – earlier than turning her consideration to Zheng.
Executing her aggressive strategy to close perfection paid dividends.
Sabalenka broke on the first alternative with a cracking backhand winner, noticed off three break factors within the subsequent recreation and continued to pressure errors from her opponent as she moved in direction of a scientific victory.
The uncommon second of uncertainty in a dominant efficiency by Sabalenka got here when she was attempting to shut out victory and wanted to avoid wasting a uncommon break level earlier than taking a fifth championship level.
She took this with a clear forehand crosscourt winner, turning to her workforce with each arms lifted in direction of the sky earlier than blowing a kiss.