Ryuji hirooka

Australian Open Girls: Wakana Sonobe etched her name into the history books by becoming the first Japanese player to win the Australian Open girls’ singles title. The 17-year-old delivered a commanding performance in the final, dismantling American doubles champion Kristina Penickova 6-0, 6-1 in just 54 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.

Sonobe’s final victory, her fastest singles match of the tournament, capped a remarkable campaign at Melbourne Park. The Japanese star entered the match fresh from a semi-final win over No.1 seed and home favorite Emerson Jones, showcasing nerves of steel and an unrelenting drive.

Her path to the title was marked by resilience and dominance. Across six matches, Sonobe dropped just one set, a grueling 7-6 decider in her two-hour-and-29-minute first-round clash against China’s Zhang Reuien. From there, she was unstoppable, using aggressive play and tactical precision to keep her opponents at bay.