MELBOURNE, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- World number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus made her first step towards a fifth grand slam title with a comfortable victory over French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah on Sunday's first day of the Australian Open.
Opening the night session on Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka hit 23 winners to eventually run away with a 6-4, 6-1 victory in one hour and 16 minutes, having initially encountered problems against the left-handed 20-year-old.
"It's always tricky playing someone young, someone that you don't really know yet, and who is also a lefty," Sabalenka said. "It was a tricky start for me, but I'm super happy to close this match in straight sets."
Sabalenka is determined to make amends after her bid for a tournament three-peat was thwarted by American Madison Keys in a major upset in last year's epic final.
Rakotomanga Rajaonah, who had only played one previous match in the main draw of a grand slam, made a slow-starting Sabalenka work hard in a competitive first set.
But Sabalenka stepped up her level in the 10th game to break serve and wrap up the first set in 45 minutes before sprinting to the finish line.
Sabalenka next faces 23-year-old Chinese Bai Zhuoxuan, who emerged from the qualifying draw, or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. ■
