Aryna Sabalenka, the world's second-ranked player, made a resounding start to her 2024 Roland Garros campaign, crushing Erika Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 in the first round. The Belarusian star, who reached the semifinals in Paris last year, displayed her dominance on clay, winning in just 68 minutes.
Sabalenka, known for her powerful serve and aggressive baseline play, broke Andreeva's serve twice in the opening set, firing 13 winners to just seven unforced errors. The Russian qualifier, making her Roland Garros main-draw debut, managed to break Sabalenka in the second set, but the Belarusian responded with a flurry of winners to seal the victory.
Sabalenka's victory sets up a potential second-round clash with Irene Burillo Escorihuela of Spain or Moyuka Uchijima of Japan, who are scheduled to face off in the qualifiers. However, her biggest challenge is likely to come in the semifinals, where she could face Elena Rybakina, the No. 4 seed and reigning Wimbledon champion.
Sabalenka's impressive form on clay this season has made her a contender for the Roland Garros title. She reached the finals of both the Mutua Madrid Open and the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, losing only to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. With Swiatek on the opposite half of the draw, Sabalenka has a clear path to the final.
The Belarusian's victory also marks a significant milestone for Andreeva, who is making her first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam. The 19-year-old, who won the junior Roland Garros title in 2021, has been steadily rising up the rankings and will look to build on her experience in Paris.
Tags: #RolandGarros, #ArynaSabalenka, #ErikaAndreeva, #Tennis, #ClayCourt
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