World number one Aryna Sabalenka launched her French Open campaign in spectacular fashion, crushing Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-0 in just one hour on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The Belarusian dropped only one game, delivering a commanding performance under the roof, with five aces, 30 winners, and five breaks of her opponent’s serve.
The three-time Grand Slam champion, who reached the French Open semifinals in 2023 but has yet to make the final, showcased why she is among the tournament favorites. Sabalenka won nine consecutive games to seal the victory, setting up a second-round clash with either Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann or Italian qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini.
Potential challenges lie ahead, with a possible quarterfinal against eighth seed Zheng Qinwen, who defeated 2021 runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-3, and a semifinal showdown with three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek.
Post-match, Sabalenka delighted fans by snapping polaroid photos of her bags and the court, a tradition she began in December. Speaking to former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, she explained, “I started taking photos to capture good moments. I have a big album now, and when I’m sad, I look through it for good vibes. It’s mostly my team in there, which can be annoying, but it’s fun.