Sabalenka in a sentence

And that is why she avoided a handshake—avoided eye contact, even—after losing to Sabalenka 6-3, 6-2 on Day 1 at Roland Garros.

And then on second serve, at 40-30, that Sabalenka levels the match.

An early break for the Russian in the second was wiped out instantly with a crunching forehand return by Sabalenka, who had to be at her best to hold during a 14-minute seventh game.

Aryna Sabalenka gave a statement of her intent at the Australian Open by powering past Belinda Bencic to reach the quarter-finals.

Aryna Sabalenka has been named women's ITF World Champion for the first time.

Aryna Sabalenka hits a return against Elena Rybakina during their Australian Open women’s singles final on Saturday, Jan.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after winning the first set against Sloane Stephens of the U.S. during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 4, 2023.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus hugs the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy after defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Madison Keys of the U.S. during a women’s singles match on Day 10 of Wimbledon in London.

Aryna Sabalenka returns with form and comfort on the surface.

Aryna Sabalenka, this year’s Australian Open winner, was beaten amid a wave of momentum in the semi-finals with Jabeur seemingly on course to become the first African or Arab woman to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Aryna Sabalenka won this year’s Australian Open in January but couldn’t show the same resilience and mental strength at Indian Wells two months later.

A semi-finalist in New York the last two years, Sabalenka clinched the match with a backhand winner.

As Sabalenka got to her feet she was greeted with a hug and a shy smile from Rybakina, then embarked on her own Pat Cash moment by climbing to her player’s box.

At 5-2 up in the second set, Sabalenka’s confidence was visibly growing, momentum was on her side and she levelled up thanks to a 104mph ace.

Australian Open champion Sabalenka, who next faces Czech Karolina Muchova, caused a furore by snubbing the media after her last two matches, havingbeen grilled about the war and her country’s involvement as a staging ground for Russian troops.

Australian Open winner Sabalenka, who had never been past the third round in Paris in five prior appearances, defeated Svitolina 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals at the Roland Garros.

Billie Jean King will present the trophy to Aryna Sabalenka, who is a winner in her first grand slam final.

But players including Pegula, Caroline Garcia, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Belinda Bencic have been in strong form in the opening fortnight of the season.

Caroline Garcia and Aryna Sabalenka — fourth and fifth seeds respectively — had it easier as they swept into the second round.