Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus commenced her quest for a third consecutive Australian Open title with a powerful 6-3, 6-2 victory over former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens of the United States on Sunday.
Playing on the familiar grounds of Rod Laver Arena, where she has lifted the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup twice in the past two years, the world number one displayed her trademark aggressive play despite a few early setbacks. Sabalenka was broken twice in a wayward first set but regained composure to secure her 15th successive win at hardcourt Grand Slams.
“I think I just love the people, love the crowd. I love all the support I feel during basically every match I played there,” Sabalenka said of Rod Laver Arena, now the site of two of her three Grand Slam triumphs. “It’s just an incredible feeling. I just want to keep winning as long as I can just to feel the atmosphere.”
Spectators were treated to a showcase of Sabalenka’s dominance as she surged to a 4-0 lead in the first set, catching fans off guard in the first evening match on center court. Though Stephens mounted a brief comeback, breaking Sabalenka twice to close the gap to 4-3, the Belarusian’s relentless aggression and solid net play secured the set.
“A few years ago, I would get frustrated and probably would lose the first set,” Sabalenka reflected. “I’m really glad that I improved my mental toughness.”
In the second set, Sabalenka continued to overpower Stephens, incorporating deft touches like a crosscourt drop-shot to break in the third game. Stephens, unable to match Sabalenka’s intensity, bowed out after 71 minutes.
Sabalenka will next face Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the second round as she aims to become the first woman since Martina Hingis (1997-1999) to achieve an Australian Open “threepeat.”
In other action, Wang Xinyu of China was eliminated in the first round by Spain’s No. 11 seed Paula Badosa, 6-3, 7-6(5). Despite showcasing aggressive play and leading early in the second-set tiebreak, Wang was ultimately undone by a high number of unforced errors.
“She’s a very aggressive type of player, but actually today I felt more like I was more aggressive,” Wang said post-match. “So I gained some points and then there were some errors, but I feel like this is the tennis I want to play.”
Both matches highlighted the intensity and competitive spirit at this year’s Australian Open, setting the stage for exciting rounds to come.
Reference(s):
Sabalenka starts Australian Open 'threepeat' bid by beating Stephens
cgtn.com
