Sabalenka’s aura powers her into second round

There is something familiar and aloof about the world’s best tennis players.

So rarely do they grace the public with their presence, yet the regularity of their television appearances makes them so familiar.

The elite are almost royal-like, their appearances at any given event a near-regal occasion.

This is more true of some than others.

Aryna Sabalenka is definitively one of the few.

There is no questioning when the world number one and two-time defending Australian Open champion enters an arena.

The Belarusian carries with her an aura. A presence.

Her every movement she makes is mildly intimidating. Her grunts of exertion command attention. This is her arena.

Even her mistakes feel like an affront, soon to be rectified with even more awesome power.

It’s too soon to call it Serena-like. Far too soon. There can only ever be one Serena.

But it’s there, nonetheless.

Against Mexican world number 75 Renata Zarazúa, there was a risk that Sabalenka’s aura would be too potent. Too overpowering.

An early break handed the Belarusian control of the first, racing into a three-game lead with an intoxicating mix of brute force and gentle touch.

But auras can crack, or at least be eroded.

Sabalenka was not clean in consolidating her break, was held to love, and then coughed up her serve with some erratic unforced errors. From 3-0 to 3-3 in an instant.

Her composure cracked at that point, tossing her racquet to the court but catching it on the bounce. Blink and you’d miss it.

Rustiness?

Probably. The ball sailing long when it should be hitting lines, a querying look to her coach in the corner.

Zarazúa may have been hitting shots without the amplified grunts coming from the other side of the net, but she was far from a silent partner in this match.

And when the chance came her way, you bet she took it. First set, 6-4.

At the start of the second, Sabalenka again looked rusty. Down 15-40, the irritation of her errors finally gave way to rage.

Three absurdly powerful shots later and she had held.

A couple of minutes later, she had broken again to lead 2-0.

Something about her body language said there was to be no more messing around.

She broke again with an irresistible forehand winner to lead 4-0 as Zarazúa’s brave resistance wilted.

The second set, won to love, was described by Sabalenka as “a perfect set”, and completed a 6-3, 6-0 victory in just 68 minutes.

“I started really well, but then I think I was over-trying to do stuff,” Sabalenka said.

“I was really frustrated with that. They were just like sitting there just, [saying] don’t overdo stuff, just stay basic and stay low.

“I’m like, ‘Yeah, yeah, I know, whatever.’

“I was overthinking, overdoing stuff. I was kind of like pissed with myself that I couldn’t stick to the simple stuff.

“I’m glad I was able to switch off and kind of like, start everything over again.

“Yeah, that was a bit fun at the beginning. I’m glad that I closed this match in two sets.”

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Not quite a perfect opener, but close to it.

Having made 13 unforced errors in the first set, Sabalenka made just six in the second, hitting 25 winners overall, 11 in that second set as the rust fell away.

She must enjoy playing in Australia.

In pre-Australian Open WTA tournaments in Adelaide (2023) and Brisbane (2024), she has lost just one of her nine matches.

That Adelaide triumph ended a 20-month tournament drought.

After winning the Adelaide International and then finishing runner-up in Brisbane last year, she went on to win back-to-back Australian Opens.

“I’m super happy to be back in Australia. It really feels like home,” Sabalenka said.

“I love the atmosphere, it doesn’t matter where you play, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, it’s always an amazing atmosphere. I’m really happy to be back.”

Nobody has won three Australian Opens in a row since Martina Hingis in 1997-99.

“You’re saying that like it’s already in the history, that she’s going to win it,” Sabalenka said with a grin.

“It’s great to start the season, playing the tournament before the big one.

“I really hope I can do well here and I can come back really strong in Melbourne.”