MELBOURNE – World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her Australian Open 2026 campaign with a commanding performance, dismantling Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3, 6-1 in just 32 minutes to storm into the third round.
The match started with Bai struggling to find her rhythm, quickly falling behind 0-5 in the opening set after 15 minutes. She fought back with two aces, momentarily loosening Sabalenka’s grip, and even saved three break points in the third game. But the Belarusian top seed held firm, clinching the set and never looking back.
In the second set, Sabalenka raced to a 4-0 lead, wrapping up the victory in a total of 74 minutes – though the IANS report highlights the swift dominance. Next up for her is either 28th seed Emma Raducanu or Anastasia Potapova, promising another thrilling clash.
This win marks Sabalenka’s 25th main draw victory at the Australian Open, making her the sixth woman to achieve this since 2000, joining legends like Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Justine Henin, Ash Barty, and Iga Swiatek. The two-time champion now boasts seven straight wins here, starting her 2026 season on fire. She’s reached the third round for the sixth straight year, with a perfect 7-0 record in second-round matches.
Meanwhile, Elina Svitolina kept her red-hot 2026 form rolling, defeating Linda Klimovicova 7-5, 6-1 to advance. She’ll face Diana Shnaider next, who staged a dramatic comeback against Australian wildcard Talia Gibson, winning 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 after saving two match points.
Sabalenka and Svitolina’s emphatic victories have injected fresh excitement into the women’s singles draw. Their third-round showings could set the tone for who dominates the later stages of this Grand Slam.