Aryna Sabalenka found another gear when she needed to, in order to move through to the second round of the 2026 Australian Open, on day 1 of the tournament.
With a record number of fans attending the day session, Sabalenka kicked off the night sessions with a 6-4 6-1 win over Frenchwoman Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
It was Rakotomanga Rajoonah’s first appearance at the Australian Open, and in the first set, she put up plenty of resistance.
Sabalenka admitted it was awkward to play someone she’d never seen before.
“The serve was really a little bit awkward for me. It was not that heavy, not that fast. I was trying to find the perfect position for me to return. Also, the balls were flying a lot.
She was serving really good targets. It was combination of couple things. But then at the very end I felt like I have to step in and I have to try to put as much pressure as I can on her. I did it, and it I really worked well.”
The resistance faded at 4-5 in the opening set, when Sabalenka finally broke through to break serve, and take the first set. From there, she never looked back, finishing the match in quick time.
Reflecting on her first match at the Australian Open, Sabalenka remembers it well.
“I think it was against Ashleigh Barty at Rod Laver. Probably not the best experience to have for the first time, facing Australian at the Rod Laver.
But I’m also proud the connection I was able to build with the fans since then. That wasn’t my best experience, to be honest. It was also cool because she was in the top 30, I think. For me, was a really big match, really big opportunity to see where my game at.
Even though I lost that match, but I really enjoyed, and I learned a lot from that loss.”
Despite Sabalenka being No.1 in the world, she admitted it’s important to keep evolving her game, and using the net more, is something that she’s been working on. Tonight, Sabalenka approached the net 22 times, for 16 wins.
“I was definitely working on serve and volley. I’m super happy to be able to do it on the match. You know, on the practice is one thing, but to be able to be kind of, like, fearless and go there at the match is something else. I’m really proud I’m able to show this tennis.
I think it’s very important to always working on your game, always developing as a player, always searching for something that is new, that is going to help your game. I think that’s the key to be consistent, always bring something new on the table.
I think over the years we’ve developed my game so much. We added a lot of new things. I’m proud of the work we’ve done together with my team.”
Sabalenka will face qualifier Zhuoxuan Bao in the second round, after she knocked out Anastasia Pavyluchenkova in a 3-set marathon.
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