Aryna Sabalenka Overcomes Pressure to Win Australian Open Opener
World number one Aryna Sabalenka navigated the “pressure” of performing in front of tennis icons Roger Federer and Rod Laver to launch her Australian Open campaign with a convincing victory. The Belarusian star defeated French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena.
The presence of six-time Australian Open men’s champion Federer and three-time winner Laver in the front row added an extra layer of intensity to the first-round match. Sabalenka playfully admitted she consciously avoided making eye contact with the legends.
“I wanted to show great tennis so you guys enjoy watching me play. What a privilege – I really hope you guys enjoyed it just a little bit,” Sabalenka shared after the match. “It was a lot of pressure. I was walking [around] thinking ‘don’t look there, don’t look there’.”
A Dominant Force in Melbourne
Sabalenka’s track record in Australia is undeniably impressive. She has secured back-to-back Melbourne titles in 2023 and 2024, dropping only one set on her way to victory in each tournament. Her overall record at the Australian Open is remarkable, with just one loss in her last 22 matches – a surprising defeat to Madison Keys in last year’s final.
Her success isn’t limited to the Australian Open; five of her 22 career singles titles have been won on Australian soil, including a warm-up victory at the Brisbane International earlier this year. This demonstrates her consistent performance and comfort on Australian courts.
A Challenging First Round
Despite her impressive form, Sabalenka faced a challenging start against world number 118 Rakotomanga Rajaonah. The first set was uncharacteristically sloppy for Sabalenka, with her serve broken in the opening game. While she immediately broke back, the set was marked by 16 winners offset by 13 unforced errors.
After a crucial save at 4-4, Sabalenka found her rhythm, reeling off five consecutive games to seize control of the match. “I didn’t start my best. She showed up on fire and she was playing great,” Sabalenka acknowledged.
Looking Ahead
Sabalenka is now aiming to reach a fourth consecutive Australian Open final. She will next face either Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Bai Zhuoxuan in the second round. A potential third-round encounter with Britain’s Emma Raducanu looms, promising an exciting matchup for fans.
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