Aryna Sabalenka begins quest for third successive Australian Open title with a win

Aryna Sabalenka began her Australian Open defence in style on Sunday (12 January), seeing off American hopeful Sloane Stephens in straight sets (6-3, 6-2).

The women's top ranked tennis player is in the hunt for a third consecutive title in this competition.

A successful defence of her crown will see the 26-year-old become the seventh player in tournament history to three-peat this Grand Slam and would become the first since Martina Hingis in 1999 to achieve the feat.

“I’m super happy to be back, I love this place and we have a full stadium, I couldn’t dream for more,” she said, following her victory.

“I don’t feel like I played my best but I’m glad I managed to close it in straight sets. It definitely feels like home.”

Sabalenka ended 2024 as the number one ranked player in the world for the first time in her career but had to overcome a first-set wobble to get the better of former US Open champion Stephens.

Her next test comes in the former of Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Wednesday, 15 January.

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