Aryna Sabalenka Overcomes Serve Break to Secure Win
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka was broken while serving for the match in her first-round encounter but managed to prevail and advance. The Belarusian’s mind likely recalled her recent French Open quarter-final, where she led Russian Diana Shnaider 6-3, 4-1 before the match slipped away.
However, Sabalenka quickly dispelled any negative thoughts, breaking Serbian qualifier Teodora Kostovic in the following game to close out a 6-2, 6-3 victory. This marked a solid start as she aims to capture the title for the first time.
“For the first match I feel pretty good,” Sabalenka said. “I’d say I rate myself eight out of 10. She brought a really good fight, stepped it up in the second set and pushed me. Happy I was able to close this match in straight sets.”
Experience and Nerves
Sabalenka, a semi-finalist at this tournament in each of her last three appearances, arrived with some doubts following her loss in Paris. That defeat led her to consult her former sports psychologist for the first time in several years. Despite a slight dip in form recently, she settled any nerves with a rapid 4-0 lead early in the match.
“We all have nerves,” she remarked. “We just try to put them away. I think with experience I have just become better at dealing with that.”
Kostovic, who had never competed on grass before entering the qualifying rounds, demonstrated her potential by getting on the scoreboard in the fifth game. The 19-year-old, making her Grand Slam debut, celebrated emphatically after breaking Sabalenka’s serve while the world No 1 was serving for the match. She also saved a match point with an ace before Sabalenka ultimately secured the win.
Maja Chwalinska’s Setback
Three weeks ago, Maja Chwalinska enjoyed the best fortnight of her career, using her classic style of speed, spin, and trajectory to outmaneuver opponents en route to the French Open final. On Monday, she appeared on course for another victory in her opening-round match against Mananchaya Sawangkaew, holding a match point when she slipped on the grass.
Initially, it seemed she had avoided injury, but she soon attended to her right ankle. Despite continuing to play, her movement was clearly impaired, and she eventually lost 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.
“I’m definitely very disappointed,” Chwalinska said. “I was one point from winning a match. It’s a grand slam, so of course every match is very, very important. But yeah, I’ll get through it. It’s tennis, it’s sport, so I will lose many more like this, and I will hopefully win some like that.”
Jessica Pegula Advances
American No 4 seed Jessica Pegula, considered by many as a strong contender for the title, avoided a repeat of last year’s early exit by defeating Czech player Darja Vidmanova 7-5, 6-3 in the first round.
“I definitely wanted to redeem myself a bit from last year’s exit and then also the early exit at the French,” Pegula said. “I did well in Australia, I’ve done well in the US Open the last few years [so I] wasn’t happy about that. Little extra nerves or pressure today, as well, just with that in mind but then also motivation at the same time.”
Other Notable Winners
Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka and rising American player Iva Jovic were among others who advanced to the next round.
