Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates victory with on-court presenter Jelena Dokic, following her first round match against Sloane Stephens of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia.
Sabalenka Vs Stephens: Reigning Champ Enters AUS Open Second Round
Aryna Sabalenka began her bid to become the first woman in a quarter-century to win three consecutive Australian Open titles, eliminating 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday night in just 71 minutes. Sabalenka is seeded No. 1 at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time and while she was not perfect in this first-round match — “Not like I played my best, probably,” she said — it was plenty good. As big a server as there is in women라이브 바카라 tennis, Sabalenka did not hit her first ace until the match라이브 바카라 15th game and finished with only two. She won her first major championship at Melbourne Park in 2023, then added another last January, before raising her total to three Slam trophies at the U.S. Open in September. The last woman to win the Australian Open three years in a row was Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999.
Australian Open 2025: Aryna Sabalenka, left, is congratulated by Sloane Stephens
| Photo: AP/Vincent Thian
Aryna Sabalenka, left, of Belarus is congratulated by Sloane Stephens of the U.S. following their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia.
Australian Open 2025: A young fan holds a poster for Aryna Sabalenka
| Photo: AP/Vincent Thian
A young fan holds a poster for Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus after she defeated Sloane Stephens of the U.S. in their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia.
Australian Open 2025: Sloane Stephens plays a backhand return to Aryna Sabalenka
| Photo: AP/Vincent Thian
Sloane Stephens of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia.
Australian Open 2025: Aryna Sabalenka plays a forehand return to Sloane Stephens
| Photo: AP/Vincent Thian
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a forehand return to Sloane Stephens of the U.S. during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia.
Australian Open 2025: Sloane Stephens plays a forehand return to Aryna Sabalenka
| Photo: AP/Vincent Thian
Sloane Stephens of the U.S. plays a forehand return to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia.
Australian Open 2025: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus waves as she walks onto Rod Laver Arena
| Photo: AP/Vincent Thian
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus waves as she walks onto Rod Laver Arena ahead of her first round match against Sloane Stephens of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia.
Australian Open 2025: Sloane Stephens of the U.S. waves as she walks onto Rod Laver Arena
| Photo: AP/Vincent Thian
Sloane Stephens of the U.S. waves as she walks onto Rod Laver Arena ahead of her first round match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia.
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