Aryna Sabalenka made a strong start at the Australian Open as she aims for an impressive hat-trick of titles at Melbourne Park. The defending champion, Sabalenka, continued her incredible Australian Open winning streak, which now stands at 15 matches, despite facing challenging weather conditions on the opening day.
The match day at Melbourne Park faced interruption early on, with less than an hour of play possible on the outside courts before a thunderstorm hit, resulting in a significant delay of more than six hours. Fortunately for the players and fans, the covered courts allowed the tournament to progress as scheduled. Sabalenka was the first to showcase her skills on the Rod Laver Arena during the night session, where she secured a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over former US Open champion Sloane Stephens.
Though the matchup was considered formidable on paper, Stephens has seen a decline in her performance, having fallen to 81 in the WTA rankings. After losing the first four games, she managed to string together three consecutive points, but that was not enough to challenge Sabalenka effectively. The Belarusian sensation has had a remarkable journey recently, clinching her first major championship at the Australian Open in 2023, and following it up with another title in January. Sabalenka then lifted her total Slam trophy count to three by winning the US Open in September.
The last female player to achieve an impressive feat of winning the Australian Open three consecutive times was none other than the legendary Martina Hingis, who managed this accomplishment from 1997 to 1999. Sabalenka’s goal to replicate such a historic achievement adds to the excitement surrounding her participation in this year’s tournament.
Another notable player, Qinwen Zheng, the fifth seed who Sabalenka defeated in last year’s final, also progressed smoothly to the second round. Zheng, the talented 22-year-old from China, who won Olympic gold in Paris, faced some resistance from Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni but ultimately managed to secure a 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 victory. Zheng, who appeared to be in solid form during the match, demonstrated resilience despite facing a challenging start. At one point, she served for the set at 5-4 while having a 40-0 lead, only for Todoni to come back and win five consecutive points.
The tension escalated when Todoni held three set points with Zheng serving at 5-6, but despite these opportunities, the fifth seed kept her composure and took control of the match.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva made headlines with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 win against Marie Bouzkova, showcasing her talent and hinting at her potential as a serious contender in the latter stages of the tournament. On the other hand, 29th seed Linda Noskova, who caused an upset against Iga Swiatek on her path to the quarter-finals in the previous year, faced an unexpected challenge, ultimately succumbing to a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 defeat at the hands of Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
Sonay Kartal, the British No. 3, made her Australian Open debut, but unfortunately, her journey came to a premature end. She faced Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, and despite a strong effort, Kartal couldn’t quite find the rhythm needed to succeed, ultimately falling short after a tough contest that concluded with scores of 6-1, 7-6 (7-5). Kartal had enjoyed an impressive rise up the rankings in the latter half of the previous season, securing her first WTA Tour title in Tunisia and breaking into the top 100, which earned her a spot in the main draw at Melbourne Park.
On what turned out to be a rain-soaked opening day, Kartal was the only British player in action, with her match scheduled to begin three and a half hours later than planned. In the second game, both Kartal and Bouzas Maneiro thought a serve had been called out, only to discover that the call originated from a neighboring court, underlining the challenges players face with automated line calls and the absence of line judges.
As the tournament progresses, the focus shifts to upcoming matches, where other British players like Jack Draper, Jacob Fearnley, and Jodie Burrage are set to begin their campaigns on Monday, each looking to make their mark at this prestigious Grand Slam event.
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