Reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and Aussie tennis great Jelena Dokic have collaborated to raise funds for victims of domestic violence in an unexpected post-script to an epic semi-final at Melbourne Park.
Despite the straight-sets scoreline, Sabalenka’s 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory over American No.4 seed Coco Gauff in the Australian Open semi-final was a thrilling, see-sawing battle between two tennis heavyweights.
Sabalenka, now qualified for her second consecutive Australian Open final, emerged as the red-hot favorite to secure back-to-back titles. In a surprising turn of events, Dokic, in a light-hearted exchange during the semi-final, requested a towel from Sabalenka for a charitable cause.
“This might be a weird question, last one… in front of 15,000 people, you need to give me a towel because you’ve got too many,” Dokic humorously remarked.
Sabalenka, displaying her compassionate side, promptly handed over a towel to Dokic. Following up on Thursday, Dokic made another request, this time with a charitable twist.
“I’ll take another one, by the way. But what I want to get you to do, if you’re OK with it — can you sign it, because then we will auction it off for kids and women affected by domestic violence, is that OK?”
Sabalenka, without hesitation, signed two towels, garnering applause from the crowd. Dokic praised Sabalenka for her generosity and competitiveness, stating, “Thank you for what you do for women’s sport as well. You’re through to the Australian Open final for the second time in a row.”
Dokic, who herself escaped an abusive childhood, highlighted the significance of the fundraising effort for victims of domestic violence. Sabalenka, known for her fierce competitiveness on the court, demonstrated her kind and compassionate side, earning appreciation from the audience.
Sabalenka, the world No.2, is set to face either Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen or Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska in the final. With an impressive performance in the tournament so far, Sabalenka remains undefeated, displaying remarkable resolve in ending Gauff’s winning streak.
In the semi-final, despite Gauff’s strong start, Sabalenka’s strategic play and focus ultimately secured her the victory. Sabalenka expressed her readiness for the match, acknowledging the importance of fan support.
“I was just ready for anything tonight and I think that was the key — and definitely your support guys,” Sabalenka said.
As Sabalenka aims for her second consecutive Australian Open title, her exceptional performance and charitable contributions off the court make her a standout figure in the tennis world. The collaboration with Dokic adds a meaningful dimension to her journey, emphasizing the impact athletes can have beyond the confines of the game.
Sabalenka at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2024
LLWWWWWWWL Now the world no.2, Sabalenka owns an overall 10-1 match record in 2024. The Belarussian is participating at the Australian Open where she defeated the world no.173 Ella Seidel 6-0 6-1, the world no.107 Brenda Fruhvirtova 6-3 6-2, the world no.33 Lesya Tsurenko 6-0 6-0, the world no.442 Amanda Anisimova 6-3 6-2, the world no.11 Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 6-3 and the world no.4 Cori Gauff 7-62 6-4.
Aryna Sabalenka will take on the world no.15 Qinwen Zheng in the final. Their actual head to head record is 1-0 for Sabalenka.
Sabalenka was the runner-up in Brisbane (Brisbane International).
The Belarussian won 13 titles in her career: 9 on hard courts, 2 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
