Aryna Sabalenka has served off her title defence at the Australian Open with a straight-set win over Sloane Stephens in Melbourne on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Belarusian did not face much trouble on her way to a 6-3 6-2 win over the American at the Rod Laver Arena.
It is Sabalenka’s 15th successive win at the Grand Slam and 28th win in her last 29 matches as the women’s world number one aims to claim a third consecutive title in Australia.
If she succeeds, Sabalenka will become only the seventh player to achieve the three-peat in Australia and the first to do so in 26 years since Martina Hingis in 1999.
In other first round matches, Jessica Maneiro set up a second-round meeting with Sabalenka after overcoming Sonay Kartal, while Zheng Qinwen advanced with a win over Anca Todoni of Romania.