Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka showed her characteristic character and power in her opening match at the Australian Open, overcoming a shaky start to knock out former world number 3 Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 . The world number 1 extended her dominant run at Melbourne Park to 15 consecutive victories, cementing her place as tournament favorite.
A First Roller Coaster Set
Sabalenka started strong, breaking Stephens twice to take a comfortable 4-0 lead in the first set. But the American came back, taking advantage of two consecutive breaks of service to return to 4-3.
Unfazed, Sabalenka regained control, breaking Stephens once again in the eighth game before closing out the set with authority. The Belarusian’s ability to stabilize the situation after its slight decline underlines why she remains the number one seed and reigning champion.
Surge in the Second Set
With momentum clearly on her side, Sabalenka shifted into high gear in the second set. The defending champion dominated from the baseline, breaking Stephens twice and winning five straight games to take a comfortable 5-1 lead.
Leading a set and with a double break, Sabalenka showed her composure, closing the match on her serve in game eight. The top seed’s relentless aggression resulted in 20 winners, making up for her 21 unforced errors, while Stephens struggled to find his rhythm, totaling just nine winners compared to 16 unforced errors.
Sabalenka’s series in Melbourne
The victory marked Sabalenka’s 15th consecutive victory at Melbourne Park and her eighth straight sets victory at the Australian Open. After her victory last year and a strong performance at the Brisbane International earlier this month, the Belarusian is full of confidence.
After the match, Sabalenka reflected on her growing attachment to Melbourne. “Melbourne Park feels like home to me,” she said, emphasizing her comfort and determination on the tournament’s iconic courts.
What’s next for Sabalenka?
Sabalenka now moves on to the second round where she will face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. With her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game, the world number one looks set for another strong performance at the Australian Open.
How Sabalenka beat Stephens: The stats tell the story
- Points de break : Sabalenka created 13 opportunities on Stephens’ serve, converting five of them.
- Winners vs. Errors: Sabalenka tallied 20 winners but also made 21 unforced errors. Stephens hit nine winners against 16 errors.
- Momentum changes: Despite a brief fall in the first set, Sabalenka’s ability to rally and dictate play was crucial to her victory.
The big picture
Aryna Sabalenka’s dominance at Melbourne Park continues to grow, and her ability to bounce back from setbacks highlights the mental toughness that has propelled her to the top of the rankings. With a win under her belt, the defending champion looks set to keep her Australian Open title dreams alive.
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