By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday January 12, 2024
Defending two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka eased past Sloane Stephens in straight sets to stretch her winning streak in Melbourne to 15.
Photo Source: TTV
One down, six to go.
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka is up and running at the 2025 Australian Open after notching a 6-3, 6-2 victory over former Grand Slam winner Sloane Stephens on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night.
“It was a tough match,” Sabalenka said. “It’s always a tough match against her.”
The three-time Grand Slam champion was happy to be through and even enjoyed a little post-match dance with interviewer Jelena Dokic and 15,000 fans inside Rod Laver Arena.
On the court, she was all business, as she made relatively light work of the American as she saunted to her sixth win of the season, against zero losses. Sabalenka opened her season by winning her 18th career title in Brisbane.
The defending two-time Australian Open champion stretched her winning streak at the Happy Slam to 15 as she opens her bid to become the first woman to complete an Australian Open three-peat since Martina Hingis in 1999.
She improved to 5-0 lifetime against Stephens as handed the American her ninth consecutive loss. The former World No.3 attempted to make a match of it early as she rebounded from a double break down to get back on serve in the opening set (at 3-4), but Sabalenka took the final two games to secure the opener.
In the second set Sabalenka showcased her variety as she broke for 2-1 with an exquisite forehand drop shot that Stephens could only toss her racquet at, and the Belarusian led the rest of the way to earn her 23rd Australian Open victory against just five losses.
She finished with 20 winners and broke Stephens' serve five times from 13 opportunities, concluding her victory in 71 minutes.
Sabalenka will face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the second round.
Sabalenka, who did not drop a set en route to her second consecutive Aussie Open title in 2024, has now won 18 straight sets at Melbourne Park. She is featured as the No.1 seed at a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.