Melbourne, Jan 18 (.) World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka launched her Australian Open 2026 campaign with a composed 6-4, 6-1 win over spirited French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah in a first-round clash at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night, negotiating an early test before asserting her authority.
Chasing a slice of history as she bids to become the first woman since Martina Hingis more than 20 years ago to reach four consecutive Australian Open finals, Sabalenka was forced to problem-solve against an opponent who brought variety, fearlessness and deft touch to the biggest stage of her young career.
The opening night in Melbourne delivered both result and spectacle. Sabalenka’s supporters saw their favourite prevail, while the fans were treated to an engaging contrast of styles, with frequent drop shots, lobs and net exchanges punctuating the contest. Tennis legends Rod Laver and Roger Federer were among the onlookers, and Sabalenka later acknowledged their presence by taking a selfie with the pair following her interview.
Rakotomanga Rajaonah, a 20-year-old left-hander ranked 118 and competing in her first Australian Open main draw, showed little sign of being overawed. Facing a top-40 opponent for the first time, she broke Sabalenka in the opening game as the top seed struggled to find her first serve and briefly appeared unsettled. It was Sabalenka’s first official match at Rod Laver Arena since last year’s final, when Madison Keys denied her a third straight Australian Open crown.
The Belarusian responded swiftly, breaking back for 1-1 and gradually settling into the contest. Rajaonah continued to mix her play, using drop shots to draw Sabalenka forward and lobs to test her movement. On one such exchange, Sabalenka chased down a drop shot, backtracked for the lob and swivelled to finish the point, smiling as she did so.
Despite creating opportunities, Sabalenka missed break points at 3-2 and 4-3, allowing the Frenchwoman to hang on. The pivotal moment came in the ninth game. Down 15-30 on her own serve, Sabalenka showcased her athleticism and improvisation, sprinting wide to retrieve another drop shot and driving a firm reply down the middle. The ball struck Rajaonah’s ponytail, prompting an immediate apology from Sabalenka, who then held for 5-4 before breaking to seal the opening set.
From there, the world No.1 exhaled and took control. Sabalenka surged through the early stages of the second set, winning 12 of the first 15 points as her power and depth pushed Rajaonah further behind the baseline. The resistance faded, and Sabalenka closed out the match efficiently in straight sets.
For Rajaonah, the defeat did little to dull the occasion. The Madagascar-born Frenchwoman, who told French media she was shopping in Melbourne with her mother when she learned she had drawn Sabalenka, left the court smiling to warm applause. Her grit echoed the fighting spirit she displayed in 2025, when she became one of five teenagers to win a women’s title, memorably coming from 5-0 down and saving match points in the opening round in Sao Paulo before lifting the trophy.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, extended a remarkable streak, with it now six years since she last lost in the first round of a Grand Slam, that defeat also coming in Melbourne. With the first hurdle cleared, the top seed remains firmly on course as she pursues another deep run at the season’s opening major.
. . CDS