Australian Open: title holder Aryna Sabalenka quick to enter the fray

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka has started her defense of her Australian Open tennis title perfectly. The world No.1 dominated the American Sloane Stephens (WTA 81) 6-3, 6-2 in 1 hour and 11 minutes on Sunday in Melbourne in the first round.

Winner of the last two editions, Sabalenka, 26, took a direct lead at 4-0 in the first set. Stephens, 31, managed to cancel these two breaks and returned to 4-3. But Sabalenka immediately took over her opponent’s serve before winning the first set.