Paolini and Sakkari Cruise to Second Round at Australian Open

Day 1 of the Australian Open saw impressive performances from Jasmine Paolini and Maria Sakkari, both securing their spots in the second round with decisive straight-set victories. The No. 7 seed, Paolini, and former Top 10 player, Sakkari, demonstrated their prowess on the court, losing a combined total of just nine games.

Paolini’s Dominant Display

Jasmine Paolini showcased a commanding performance, never trailing in her 6-1, 6-2 win against qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich. The Italian player displayed focus and precision, navigating the challenges of a first-round Grand Slam match on a major court. “I think I played a solid match. I was focused I think all the time, so it was good,” Paolini shared post-match. She saved the only break point she faced, converting her advantage with a powerful forehand winner.

Sakkari Overcomes Early Challenge

Maria Sakkari faced a tougher challenge, rallying from a 4-1 deficit in the first set to overcome France’s Leolia Jeanjean. The Greek No. 1 demonstrated resilience, ultimately winning five straight games in both sets, marking her eighth first-round win in 11 appearances at the Australian Open. She only faced one break point throughout the entire match.

Key Stats and Figures

• 1: The number of break points Sakkari faced in the entire match.
• 2: Sasnovich saved break points in the two games she won in the second set.
• 4: The number of match points Paolini needed to close out the match.
• 5: Consecutive games won by Sakkari in both sets.
• 10: Winners struck by Paolini in 13 games played.
• 13: Paolini’s record in first rounds of Grand Slams (13-12 overall), currently on a nine-match winning streak.
• 25: This year marks Paolini’s 25th Grand Slam main draw appearance.
• 30: The staggering number of unforced errors made by Sasnovich, compared to Paolini’s nine.
• 40: Sakkari is contesting her 40th Grand Slam main draw, having played 38 consecutive tournaments since Wimbledon 2016.

Other Notable Results

Day 1 also saw victories for Australian wild card Talia Gibson (6-1, 6-3 over Anna Blinkova), Yulia Putintseva (3-6, 7-5, 6-3 against Beatriz Haddad Maia), and Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who upset No. 26 seed Dayana Yastremska (6-4, 7-5). These early matches set the stage for an exciting Australian Open tournament.

Both Paolini and Sakkari will be looking to surpass their previous best result of reaching the fourth round in Melbourne. Their strong starts suggest they are well-positioned to make a deep run in this year’s competition.