Yahoo Sports 'Feels like home' - Sabalenka starts title defence with win
Australian Open 2025
Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park
Coverage: Live radio commentary on Tennis Breakfast from 07:00 GMT on BBC 5 Sports Extra, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app
Aryna Sabalenka says the Australian Open "feels like home" after she began her title defence with a straight-set victory over American Sloane Stephens.
The world number one and back-to-back champion in Melbourne defeated Stephens 6-3 6-2 in the first round on Rod Laver Arena.
The 26-year-old is aiming to become just the seventh player to claim a third straight Australian Open women's singles title, and the first since Martina Hingis in 1999.
"I'm super happy to be back. I love this place and we have a full stadium, I couldn't dream for more," said Sabalenka, who overcame a wobble in the opening set to take victory.
"It was a tough match. They are always tough matches against her. I don't feel like I played my best probably but I'm glad that I managed to close this match in straight sets.
"It definitely feels like home."
Sabalenka entertained the Melbourne crowd with some dancing on court after the match having built up quite a following on social media by posting videos of her dancing with her team on TikTok.
Fast becoming a fan favourite, she then went to take a picture of the crowd with a polaroid camera before expressing her disappointment when she realised it had run out of film.
The top seed will face Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who knocked out British hopeful Sonay Kartal, in the next round.
Rain affected proceedings on the outside courts on day one of the season's first Grand Slam, but the Rod Laver Arena roof was open in time for Sabalenka's evening match after Zheng Qinwen, her opponent in last year's final, earlier beat Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni.
Sabalenka finished 2024 as the year-end world number one for the first time and, beginning her campaign in Australia as two-time defending champion and top seed, looked in fine form as she raced to a 4-0 lead.
But Stephens, who has pedigree on the hard court as a former US Open champion, pegged Sabalenka back, breaking back twice for 4-3 as Sabalenka made a series of unforced errors.
Often animated on court, Sabalenka roared in frustration at each mistake, waving her arms around in exasperation.
What had looked likely to be a straightforward opening set of her campaign turned out to be more tricky but the three-time Grand Slam champion converted her fifth break point for 5-3 then served to take the set.
Sabalenka once again earned herself a double break in the second set and this time was able to hold on to her advantage over Stephens, who has not won a match since last year's Wimbledon.
The 31-year-old's dismal form at the Australian Open continued as she exited the tournament in the first round for the fourth time in five appearances.
Victory means Sabalenka has now won 28 of her last 29 matches in hard court Slams since the start of 2023, winning 15 consecutive matches at the Australian Open and 17 consecutive sets.
It is the first time in her career she is seeded number one at a Grand Slam and, having won the Brisbane International last week, looks in fine form to go for an historic 'three-peat'.
