Sabalenka cruises into Australian Open second round

Belarus’ world number 5 Aryna Sabalenka dispatched world number 74 Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-4, in one hour and ten minutes to reach the 2023 Australian Open second round, BelTA has learned.

The Belarusian will next play world number 51 Shelby Rogers of the United States.

Earlier, two more Belarusian players reached the second round. Two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka (World No.24) defeated world number 203 Sofia Kenin of the United States, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) to set a meeting against world number 191 Nadia Podoroska of Argentine. Victoria Azarenka won the tournament in 2012 and 2013. Belarus’ world number 38 Aliaksandra Sasnovich saw off world number 136 Brenda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic, 7-5, 6-2. The Belarusian will next play world number 3 Jessica Pegula of the United States.

World number 72 Ilya Ivashka of Belarus lost to world number 34 Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, 3-6, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, in the men’s singles opener.

The Australian Open prize money for 2023 is $51.5 million. Winners in the men’s and women’s singles events will get $2 million each. The tournament at the Melbourne Park hard courts will be over on 29 January.