Tennis

'Emotionally all over the place' - gritty Sabalenka wins

January 23, 2026

World number one Aryna Sabalenka faced a tough challenge from 55th-ranked Anastasia Potapova at the Australian Open, ultimately winning in a tense match that ended with two tie-breaks. Despite leading comfortably, Sabalenka had to fend off multiple set points to secure her place in the fourth round, reflecting on her emotional state during the match.

Aryna Sabalenka reacts to a point during her Australian Open fourth round match

Credit: Co

Key Highlights

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Anastasia Potapova 7-6(4), 7-6(7) to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.
Sabalenka was leading 4-0 in the second set before Potapova mounted a comeback.
The match featured significant emotional highs and lows for Sabalenka, who felt 'disconnected' at times.
Potapova recently switched nationalities from Russia to Austria, adding geopolitical tension to the match.
This victory marked a crucial test for Sabalenka, who lost two Grand Slam finals the previous year.

Tennis

Sources

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

'Emotionally all over the place' - gritty Sabalenka wins

Key Highlights

Sources

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