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Now then! Down 15-40, Sabalenka comes in, her approach short … and Stephens flows a forehand pass past her! We’re back on serve at 4-3 to the champ! Do we got ourselves a ball-game? We got ourselves a ball-game!
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Stephens is into this now,
holding for 2-4, while Kartal, whose serving style is not unlike Jo Durie’s, racket coming almost from behind head, has broken Bouzas Maneiro again and now serves at 1-6 3-4.
Next on Cain: Ugo Humbert (14) v Matteo Gigante (Q)
Badosa has the talent to make a mark in majors, if she can only find the necessary consistency. She meets Sonmez or Gibson next.
…and Sabalenka overhits a forehand! Stephens, now playing more aggressively, is on the board at 1-4 and, while it may be too late to save this set, if she’s settled for the second, this isn’t over.
On Court, meanwhile, Lehecka has just clinched a 6-1 set one against Tu and Kartal has taken back a break to trail Bouzas Maneiro 1-6 2-4.
Talking of Andreeeva, here she is talking to Tumaini Carayol.
I can’t wait to see how she develops but, seeded to meet Saba in round four, she might be on borrowed time. That, contest, though, would be a treat – and most likely a lot closer than our current one. Sabalenka breaks again for 4-0, but Stephens quickly earns 15-40…
Of course this is our evening sesh, meaning we’ve already had a full day’s play already. I was, as you might imagine, kipping for that, but looking through what’s gone down, a few highlights;
- Arthur Fils, seeded 20, came through in four.
- Mirra Andreeva, seeded 14 and aged 17, dealt with Bouzkova 3 and 3.
- Ruud, seeded 6, beat Munar in five.
- Nishikori, aged 54, beat Monteiro in five.
Kartal has been broken at the start of set two, now trailing Bouzas Maneiro 1-6 0-3, while Lehecka is up 4-1 on Tu. Oh, and as I type, Sabalenka rushes through her consolidation for 3-0. If ever you wonder what equilibrium looks like – and, let’s face it, we’re all of us searching – this is it.
Stephens, a Grand Slam champ – she won the US Open in 2017 – and a beautiful mover, hasn’t won a match since Wimbledon and is barely in the top 100 these days. Sabalenka will know that a fast start will make her hard to catch and she quickly earns a love-hold then a break to 30. Gliding about isn’t that useful when the ball’s coming back at the speed of light. Sabalenka 2-0 Stephens
Sabalenka hits a shot. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
On Court, Lehecka and Li Tu are away, tied at 1-1 in the first; on Laver, Sabalenka is ready to serve and … play.
On Court 5, Bouzas Maneiro has taken the first set off GB’s Kartal 6-1 and played very nicely in so doing.
It’s not easy to work out a way Sabalenka doesn’t win this title for a third year in a row. She’s in her absolute prime – not just as a player but as a person, so settled in her life and so confident on court that it’s moving to behold. Life comes so naturally to her these days, she can make light of the sluggish balls with her frankly unprecedented power, and no one looks good enough to stop her. We shall see!
Here come Sabalenka and Stephens…
Going on currently:
Paula Badosa (11) 6-3 2-2 Wang Xinyu
Yuliia Starodubtseva 5-7 0-1 Leylah Fernandez (3)
Bernarda Pera 6-7 3-3 Tatiana Maria
Hugo Gaston 6-2 3-6 1-1 Omar Jasika
Sonay Kartal 1-4 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Claire Tauson 5-4 Linda Noskova (29)
G’day and welcome to the Australian Open 2025 – day one!
Not only are we starting a day earlier than strictly necessary, but we begin our first night dig with Aryna Sabalenka, no1 seed and defending champ, against the graceful and nasty Sloane Stephens, as dangerous a round one opponent as could be. If the American is at it, we could be on the cusp of a classic.
Otherwise, we get our first look at Alexander Zverev, once again trying to win his first Slam, while Jiri Lehecka also gets under way and we’ve plenty of action hanging over form the day sesh to absorb ourselves into.
Let’s go!
Sloane Stephens waves as she walks onto Rod Laver Arena. Photograph: Vincent Thian/AP
