Sabalenka Defeats Wildcard as Federer and Laver Watch
Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, started her Australian Open campaign with a convincing victory. She faced French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah in the first round and won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. The match took place on the renowned Rod Laver Arena, where tennis legends Roger Federer and Rod Laver were in attendance.
Sabalenka Shines Under Legend’s Watchful Eyes
Despite feeling the pressure of being observed by Federer and Laver, Sabalenka performed admirably. She humorously mentioned trying to avoid glancing at the tennis icons during the match. After her win, she took a selfie with both legends, expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to play in front of them.
Performance Overview
- Match Score: Sabalenka defeated Rajaonah 6-4, 6-1.
- Location: Rod Laver Arena, Australian Open.
- Historical Context: Sabalenka has won the Australian Open title twice.
Although the match was one-sided in the end, Sabalenka began slowly. She had an uncharacteristically rough first set where she was broken early. Notably, she recorded 16 winners against 13 unforced errors in this opening set. However, she regained control and won five consecutive games, sealing her dominance in the match.
Upcoming Challenges
Looking ahead, Sabalenka is aiming for her fourth consecutive Australian Open final. Her next opponent will be either Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Bai Zhuoxuan. If she advances, she might meet Britain’s Emma Raducanu in the third round.
Other Matches of Interest
- Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich, losing only three games (6-1, 6-2).
- Three-time quarter-finalist Elina Svitolina won against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in straight sets.
- 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova was upset by Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez (7-5, 4-6, 6-4).
- 20th seed Marta Kostyuk experienced a three-set defeat against France’s Elsa Jacquemot.
Sabalenka’s impressive record in Australia includes winning five of her 22 career singles titles on Australian soil. She prepared for this year’s tournament with success at the Brisbane International. Her current form suggests that she remains a formidable contender at the Australian Open.
