World No.1 Sabalenka powers into French Open second round

By AFP, Paris
25 May 2025, 11:56 AM
UPDATED 25 May 2025, 18:06 PM
The 27-year-old from Belarus has never reached the final in Paris, but the tournament appears more open than in recent years given the struggles of three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the second round of the French Open on Sunday with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova.

Sabalenka broke Rakhimova five times as she wrapped up victory in an hour to make a convincing start to her Roland Garros campaign.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka will play Switzerland's Jil Teichmann or Italian qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini for a spot in the last 32.

The 27-year-old from Belarus has never reached the final in Paris, but the tournament appears more open than in recent years given the struggles of three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek.