Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning her first round match against France’s Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. Photo: REUTERS
MELBOURNE:
Aryna Sabalenka came under early pressure as she launched her bid for a third Australian Open title but the Belarusian clicked into gear and overpowered French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4 6-1 to reach the second round on Sunday.
The world number one arrived for the match at Rod Laver Arena as the firm favourite but found herself a break down after the opening game and looked troubled throughout the first set by the guile of left-hander Rakotomanga Rajaonah despite getting back on serve.
“I think I didn’t start my best but she showed up, was fired up and she was playing great. It was a tricky start and I’m super happy I found my rhythm at the end of the first set and I felt a bit more confident,” Sabalenka said.
“I didn’t know much about her, I watched her previous games, but it’s always tricky to play against someone you don’t really know and also left-handed but I’m super happy to be able to close this match in straight sets.”
Sabalenka eventually found her rhythm and reasserted control, turning her initial difficulties into little more than a footnote as the 27-year-old settled into her power game to go up 5-4 and wrapped up the set with a huge forehand that her opponent returned long.
An early break in the second set helped Sabalenka to go 3-0 up and there was no stopping the four-times major champion, who closed out the contest on her third matchpoint to book a second-round clash with either Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Bai Zhuoxuan.
Sabalenka celebrated her win by taking a selfie with tennis greats Roger Federer and Rod Laver, who were in the stands.
“I’m a huge fan… I got a little bit tired and I wanted to show great tennis so you guys enjoy watching me play. What a privilege – thank you so much and I really hope you guys enjoyed just a little bit. It was a lot of pressure.”
Williams knocked out
Olga Danilovic beat Venus Williams 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 at the Australian Open on Sunday after the Serbian fought back from 4-0 down in the deciding set to knock the American veteran out of the tournament in the first round.
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion who returned to tennis last season after a 16-month break, received a wildcard to become the oldest woman ever to compete in the singles main draw on her return to the tournament after five years.
The 45-year-old fed off the crowd early on, racing to a 2–0 lead before Danilovic recovered and broke back to level the set.
The American produced flashes of her trademark brilliance but, after missing an early set point, was pushed into a tiebreak, which she won on her fourth set point with a decisive forehand winner.
