As Aryna Sabalenka strode down the tunnel inside Rod Laver Arena that leads players straight to the court, the cameras momentarily captured a perfect shot. The pathway to Melbourne Park’s premier court is filled with large, rectangular plaques emblazoned with the names of former champions and the dates of their triumphs.
For a second, Sabalenka stood next to the sign that memorialised her 2023 and 2024 Australian Open victories. Already focused on new records and objectives, however, she kept on moving.
Over the next fortnight, Sabalenka will attempt to become the first woman in 26 years – since Martina Hingis – to win three consecutive Australian Open singles titles. She opened up her title defence in Melbourne with an imperious performance, dismantling the former US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 to reach the second round.
After a dominant start, Sabalenka was pulled back from 4-0 to 4-3 by Stephens in the opening set. Just as the match could have turned into a tight battle, Sabalenka reasserted her dominance and held on to close out an excellent win.
“I think it’s a big difference, comparing myself to even three years ago,” she said. “In that moment, I would get frustrated and probably would lose the first set. I’m not sure if I would be able to win the match. That’s what I remember. I’m really glad that I improved my mental toughness, let’s say. I’m able to stay focused no matter what the score, what the situation is.”
Sabalenka has now won 28 of her past 29 matches at hard-court grand slams and she remains the tournament favourite. As the world No 1 tries to manage the pressure that comes with her status, Sabalenka says she is trying not to focus on her end goals.
“I think the biggest lesson I learned last year is just not focusing on defending titles or having the opportunity to put your name on the history, whatever,” said Sabalenka. “I think the key is just to keep focusing on yourself and trying your best and see what happens after the tournament.”
Andy Murray admits coaching is more demanding than he expected but he believes he can help Novak Djokovic win more grand slam titles.
Murray will get a first taste of life on the other side during a match on Monday when Djokovic takes on young American Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round of the Australian Open.
The 10-time Melbourne champion is in the unfamiliar position of being seeded down in seventh after failing to win a grand-slam title in 2024 for the first time in seven years. The only title claimed by Djokovic last year was one he had been chasing his whole career – Olympic gold in Paris.
Hiring his former great rival Murray was another sign that Djokovic is still searching for an extra edge, and the Scot said: "In my opinion, from watching his matches last year, there was at times a little bit missing, but there wasn't at the Olympics, and also at Wimbledon.
"When he was fully motivated and fully focused, he won the Olympics, which is an incredible achievement. I think it was only natural after that for there to be a bit of a letdown, because he'd set himself really one target and one goal for the year and he did that."
Of working with his former rival Djokovic, Murray added: "He's been unbelievably open, and the communication when we've been on court with each other and away from the court has been really, really good.
"I think the first couple of days it was a bit strange. But both of us have been trying to encourage that communication, try and build that trust.
"And with frustrations on court and stuff. I totally understand that side of things for him. I'm here to try and help him as best as I can.
"I've found at times coaching maybe a little bit more demanding than I expected. I think when you're a player, you just see what you do on the court, and you're not involved in all the conversations with your team that go into each day, about how you're feeling, or what it is that you're going to work on, and the strategy and preparations for matches.
"But, obviously, as a coach and a team member, the days look a bit different. And, yes, it's pretty demanding." PA Media
While Sabalenka enjoyed an uneventful day thanks to the excellent Rod Laver Arena roof, the opening day at the 2025 Australian Open was a chaotic affair for other players, disrupted by dramatic rain storms for the first seven hours of play. Court space was so limited during the day that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz were forced to simultaneously train on the same court, the two best men’s players in the world using one half of an indoor court.
After waiting hours for the rain to dissipate, Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal suffered a disappointing 6-1, 7-6 (5) defeat to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain, who will face Sabalenka in the second round. After years of injury problems, meanwhile, 35-year-old Kei Nishikori produced a vintage comeback performance in his first appearance at the Australian Open since 2021, saving two match points before recovering against Thiago Monteiro to reach the second round with an excellent 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win.
