Qinwen Zheng, the No. 5 seed and 2024 Australian Open runner-up, was handed a shocking second-round defeat by world No. 97 Laura Siegemund on Wednesday.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — It wasn't often pretty, but two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka extended a few impressive streaks on Friday while becoming one of the first players to advance to the fourth round of the year's opening Grand Slam tournament.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka held on for a tough second-round win at the Australian Open on Wednesday, but last year's finalist Zheng Qinwen became the first Top 10 seed to fall this week.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka survived a first Australian Open test, but last year’s beaten finalist Zheng Qinwen suffered a shock second-round exit. The Chinese star reached her first grand slam showpiece here last year before going on to win Olympic gold and establish herself as one of the best players in the world.

“I tried not to do too many fancy things, but really stick with my clear plan,” is how Laura Siegemund explained her second-round upset of Zheng Qinwen, the second-place finisher at last year’s Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka survives first Australian Open test, while Chinese ace Qinwen Zheng is shocked; Naomi Osaka sets up meeting with fellow mum Belinda Bencic; watch all the action from the ATP and WTA Tours on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+,

Aryna Sabalenka is not entirely shocked about the sudden demise of Zheng Qinwen who failed to make it to the third round after losing to the tricky German, Laura Siegemund.

Zheng Qinwen is out of the Australian Open after a shock defeat to Germany’s Laura Siegemund. Zheng, the No. 5 seed and last year’s beaten finalist, lost 7-6(3), 6-3 after her serve unraveled in the fourth game of the second set.

Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will be in action in their respective third round matches. Rohan Bopanna will also play in his mixed doubles match along with China's Shuai Zhang.

The German veteran gave heartfelt thanks to partner Antonio Zucca, who also serves as her coach, after shocking 2024 finalist Zheng Qinwen on John Cain Arena Wendesday afternoon.

Zheng lost the 2024 championship match at Melbourne Park to Aryna Sabalenka ... 36-year-old Siegemund, who played aggressively from the first point and put Zheng off her game. Sabalenka, the ...