Sabalenka sees off Rakotomanga Rajaonah to reach Australian Open second round

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Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 18, 2026 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning her first round match against France's Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 18, 2026 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her first round match against France's Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 18, 2026 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her first round match against France's Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 18, 2026 France's Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah reacts during her first round match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 18, 2026 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka and France's Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah pose for a picture ahead of their first round match REUTERS/Hollie Adams

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MELBOURNE, Jan 18 : Aryna Sabalenka came under early pressure as she launched her bid for a third Australian Open title but the Belarusian clicked into gear and overpowered French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4 6-1 to reach the second round on Sunday.

The world number one arrived for the match at Rod Laver Arena as the firm favourite  but found herself a break down after the opening game and looked troubled throughout the first set by the guile of left-hander Rakotomanga Rajaonah despite getting back on serve.

Sabalenka eventually found her rhythm and reasserted control, turning her initial difficulties into little more than a footnote as the 27-year-old settled into her power game to go up 5-4 and wrapped up the set with a huge forehand that her opponent returned long.

An early break in the second set helped Sabalenka go 3-0 up and there was no stopping the four-times major champion, who closed out the contest on her third matchpoint to book a second-round clash with either Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Bai Zhuoxuan.

Source: Reuters

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