Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Aryna Sabalenka took her first step Sunday toward a third consecutive Australian Open title as the top-seeded Belarusian breezed to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Sloane Stephens in a first-round match in Melbourne.

Sabalenka had 20 winners and broke Stephens, who won the 2017 U.S. Open, on five occasions from 13 break points.

Afterward, Sabalenka shared a bit of a lighter side when asked about her tradition of posting a pre-tournament dance routine on social media.

“I’m not the best dancer, but I try my best,” Sabalenka said after extending her win streak at hard-court majors to 15 matches. She is bidding to become the first woman since Switzerland’s Martina Hingis to record a three-peat at the Australian Open (1997-99).

Sabalenka was able to dance around a rough patch in the first set after Stephens won three straight games to pull within 4-3.

“I think I kind of stepped back after a few games didn’t go well,” Sabalenka said. “I stepped back, and I give her a chance to come back in the match. I’m glad that in that game on 4-3 I stepped in and I was going forward to the net. I think that was the key to get back to this match.

Sabalenka advanced to face Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who posted a 6-1, 7-6 (5) win over Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal 6-1, 7-6 (5).

Fifth-seeded Qinwen Zheng of China overcame a tough first set to record a 7-6 (3), 6-1 win over Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni in their opening-round clash. Zheng, last year’s runner up in this tournament and the Olympic gold medalist in Paris, saved three set points in the first set en route to dispatching Todoni in one hour, 56 minutes.

“It is a tough match today,” Zheng said, “I think (Todoni), she’s playing really good. I’m just happy to get through the first round, playing not my best tennis. I’m just happy to win this match.”

Also on Sunday, 11th-seeded Paula Badosa of Spain, 14th-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia, 18th-seeded Donna Vekic of Croatia and 30th-seeded Leylah Fernandez of Canada each recorded a straight-set victory over their opposition.

Clara Tauson of Denmark rallied to a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 win over 29th-seeded Linda Niskova, a Czech.

–Field Level Media