World number one Aryna Sabalenka survived a fightback from Sloane Stephens, defeating the American 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday to launch her campaign for a third straight Australian Open title.
The Belarusian leapt to a 4-0 lead on Rod Laver Arena but opened the door for the 2017 US Open champion to get back in the match with a string of unforced errors. Stephens broke twice to close to 4-3, but Sabalenka immediately made her racquet change and started to play with more aggression. She finally broke again to take the opening set in 38 minutes.
A double break in the second set helped carry Sabalenka to a 5-1 lead, after which she cemented the victory in 1 hour 11 minutes. “I love this building,” she said. “It wasn’t my best match, but straight sets is what I’ll take.”
Sabalenka, who won the Brisbane International, is seeking to be the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win three straight Australian Opens. If successful, she will be in rarified company alongside legends such as Margaret Court and Steffi Graf who have done the Melbourne three-peat. Her next opponent is Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, in the second round
