Aryna Sabalenka has started her bid to become the first woman in a quarter-century to win three consecutive Australian Open titles with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 2017 U.S.

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Aryna Sabalenka launched her bid for a third successive Australian Open title with a storm of power hitting and a 6-3 6-2 demolition of former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens on Sunday.

Aryna Sabalenka faced a former champion and some of her own demons in what proved to be a first-round match that was trickier than she and most observers expected.

World No. 1 and defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated Sloane Stephens in her first round match.

Aryna Sabalenka began her Australian Open title defence with a display of power hitting to crush Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-2 on Sunday. It was by no means peak Sabalenka, with the world number one broken twice by her American opponent in a wayward first set in the evening clash at Rod Laver Arena.

Aryna Sabalenka is gunning for a fifth title on Australian soil, and she is the first player to reel off 15 straight match wins in the Australian Open women's singles since Victoria Azarenka between 2

Aryna Sabalenka enjoyed a victorious start to her Australian Open campaign. The World No.1 is looking to pull off a rare three-peat at Melbourne Park.

Aryna Sabalenka marched into the 2nd round of the Australian Open 2025 after a dominating 6-3, 6-2 win over American Sloane Stephens on Sunday at the Rod Laver Arena. This was Sabalenka's 15th straight win at the Australian Open. She came into the first-round clash with two successive Australian Open title wins in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

Aryna Sabalenka overcame an early struggle to confidently defeat Sloane Stephens in the first round of the Australian Open 2025.

Aryna Sabalenka began her Australian Open title defence with a display of power hitting to crush Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-2 on Sunday.