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Sabalenka, Zverev Cruise To Winning Start As Rain Mars Australian Open Day 1

Aryna Sabalenka powered past Sloane Stephens to begin her quest for a third consecutive Australian Open crown yesterday with Alexander Zverev and Zheng Qinwen also winning as storms caused havoc on day one of the Grand Slam.

Belarusian top seed Sabalenka had a first-set wobble but was otherwise in control against 2017 US Open champion Stephens, romping home 6-3, 6-2 in 71 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman since Martina Hingis (1997-99) to win three consecutive titles at Melbourne Park.

If she lifts the winner’s Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup again, she will join a select group of Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Hingis as the only women to complete a three-peat.

“Always tough matches against her,” said Sabalenka, who won the Brisbane International in the lead-up. “I didn’t play my best, probably, but I’m glad I was able to close the match in two sets.”

Men’s second seed Zverev was clinical in his match against French wildcard Lucas Pouille, who made the last four in 2019 before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

The German, who is on the same side of the draw as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, cruised home 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 as he bids to better the semifinal he made in 2024.

Olympic champion Zheng, the fifth seed and last year’s losing finalist, had the honour of playing the first point on centre court against Romania’s 110th-ranked Anca Todoni.

She came through 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 but was rusty after opting not to play a warm-up event.

Zheng had three set points on her own serve at 5-3 in the first set, but allowed Todoni to come roaring back before closing her down in the tiebreak then racing through the second set.