World number 1 player Aryna Sabalenka beat Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-2 to reach the second round at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman since Martina Hingis to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. Hingis won three straight editions of the “Happy Slam”. She is also bidding to become the first top seed to win the Australian Open women’s singles title since Ashleigh Barty won this tournament in 2022.
Sabalenka broke in the second game to open up a 2-0 lead with a forehand shot. The world number 1 player earned a double break to open up a 4-0 lead after a long forehand slice from Stephens.
Stephens pulled back on serve twice for 3-4. Sabalenka converted her fourth break point in the eighth game to seal the first set 6-3.
Sabalenka broke twice in the third and fifth games and closed out the first set on her first match point in the eighth game improving her record to a perfect 6-0 in the 2025 season following her triumph in Brisbane. The reigning Australian Open champion has improved her record to 28-1 at hard-court Grand Slam matches. Sabalenka won 52% of her return points.
Sabalenka set up a second round match against Jessica Bouzas Manero, who beat Marketa Vondrousova at Wimbledon in 2024.
“I am super happy to be back. I love this place. It feel like home. ”, said Sabalenka.
Paula Badosa beat Wang Xinyu 6-3 7-6 (7-5). Wang earned the first break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Badosa reeled off five games to win the first set 6-3. Both players traded breaks in the ninth and tenths games of the second set en route to the tie-break. Wang opened up a 3-0 in the tie-break. Badosa pulled back on serve to 3-3.
Badosa won three of the next four points and drew a volley error after a double fault on her first match point to win the tie-break 7-5.