Sweeter second time around for Sabalenka

MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) - Aryna Sabalenka won a second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Saturday by marrying her undoubted tennis prowess with a more relaxed mentality and the discipline to stick with her strategy.

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Following her breakthrough at Melbourne Park last year to clinch a first major, the powerful 25-year-old Belarusian again demonstrated she has what it takes to come out on top, beating Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2.

The emphatic win on a cool Melbourne evening removed her fear of being a one-hit wonder-a fate that has befallen many of her contemporaries since the dominant era of Serena Williams.

In doing so, she became the first female player to mount a successful title defense at Melbourne Park since compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2013.