The red-hot favourite in the Australian Open 2025 women’s draw, world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, kick-started her bid for a third successive trophy at Melbourne Park with a solid, if not spectacular, win against American Sloane Stephens late on Day 1.
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The two-time defending champion, who last tasted defeat at the opening major of the season back in 2022, made it 15 successive wins in Melbourne with a 6-3 6-2 victory over the 2017 US Open champion.
First matches at majors – even for a player as dominant as Sabalenka has been – are never easy, and the three-time major champion will be relieved to have navigated an early test against a fellow Grand Slam winner.
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“I’m super happy to be back, I love this place,” Sabalenka told the Rod Laver Arena crowd after 71 minutes on court.
“It was a tough match – always tough matches against her. It’s not like I played my best probably, but I’m happy I was able to close this match in straight sets. Melbourne Park feels like home.”
