The Pole has slipped to fifth in the rankings and has not reached a WTA final since lifting her fourth French Open trophy last year
Aryna Sabalenka during her Rd 1 win yesterday. Pic/AFP
Women’s World No. 1 Sabalenka needed just an hour to sweep aside Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova on the opening day of the tournament. The Belarusian kicked off the schedule under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier with a ruthless 6-1, 6-0 win, making a strong start to her tilt at a first French Open title.
Sabalenka has never reached the final at Roland Garros, but the tournament appears more open than in recent years given the struggles of three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek. The Pole has slipped to fifth in the rankings and has not reached a WTA final since lifting her fourth French Open trophy last year.
Sabalenka believes she is as well-placed as ever to take advantage. “I really feel I can do really good here,” said Sabalenka, who belted 30 winners past Rakhimova in a one-sided contest. Later in the day, China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen beat former French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3 in a tricky first-round assignment.
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