Zheng Qinwen became the first big-name player to withdraw from the women's draw at the Australian Open after the Olympic champion was knocked down by Laura Sigmund and top seed Sabalenka struggled in the second round. Good, finally promoted.
Jessica Pegula, who lost to Sabalenka in last year's US Open final, made it safely through, while Tokyo Olympic champion Belinda Bencic moved on after brief rain delayed her outfield play on day four.
China's Zheng Jie had been trying to emulate compatriot Li Na's 2014 victory at Melbourne Park, but her hopes were dashed at John Cain Arena as unseeded Germany's Sigmund defeated 7-6(3), 6-6. 3 achieved a stunning victory.
The fifth seed looked on the verge of tears as he left the court, while world No. 97 Sigmund was grinning from ear to ear after a famous victory.
"I knew I had to play more than my best tennis - you have nothing to lose, so I told myself to swing free," Sigmund said on court.
"She's an amazing player, she's one of the best right now. But I know I can play and I want this to be a tough battle."
Zheng said this was not her day.
"I had a lot of chances to break her in the first set, but you know I probably wasn't focused at that moment," the 22-year-old said.
"At the same time, I thought she was playing really well. This is tennis, that's all."
Sabalenka is seeking to become the first woman since Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999 to win three consecutive titles at Melbourne Park. While the Belarusian beat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5, she didn't get the title quite her way.
After easily winning the first two games on Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka exchanged break points twice with the world No. 54 before eventually leading 5-2 and ending the game on serve. First set.
The three-time Grand Slam champion's serve came under intense pressure in the lower set and she found herself trailing 4-1 as an inspired Bouzas-Manero began to hit sharp winners from both sides of the court .
Sabalenka seemed to find a spark, fighting back from 5-2 to level 5-5 and breaking serve again in the next game with a backhand winner to end the match and extend her winning streak in hard-court Grand Slams. to 16 games.
"She played incredible tennis today and it was a very tough match," Sabalenka said.
“I mean, I expected her to play this tennis match, so I’m really happy that I was able to win this match.
"In the second set... after 5-2 I wasn't too anxious and I was like, 'Okay, whatever, let's leave the second set and move on. Yeah, I was able to turn it around.
"I'm really happy with the straight sets win, especially against someone like her who makes you work for every point."
American seventh-seeded Pegula beat Belgian Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2 at Margaret Court Arena, while Bencic beat Olga Danilovich 6-6. After defeating No. 25 seed Lyudmila Samsonova 1, 6-2, she defeated Suzan Ramens 6-1, 7-6(3).
Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 Australian Open champion but now unseeded, defeated No. 20 seed Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
