Aryna Sabalenka is up and running – literally – at Australian Open 2026 after downing gutsy French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah on Sunday night.
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The world No.1 – bidding to become the first woman to make four straight Australian Open finals since Martina Hingis more than 20 years ago – chased a plethora of drop shots before downing Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4 6-1.
“It was a tricky start and I’m super happy that I found my rhythm at the end of the first set, and then I felt a bit more confident,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview.
For those backing Sabalenka, it must have been an enjoyable evening at Rod Laver Arena.
Their favourite prevailed, yet they were also treated to an entertaining spectacle on the opening night in Melbourne.
Laver himself and Roger Federer, two of the highest-profile onlookers, surely enjoyed it, especially given the variety on display.
Perhaps Rakotomanga Rajaonah noticed the pair. She is a lefty like the “Rocket” and admired Federer growing up, along with Rafael Nadal.
Sabalenka certainly noticed them, and took a selfie with the legendary duo following the on-court interview.
Rakotomanga Rajaonah told French media that she was out shopping in Melbourne with her mum upon learning that she had drawn the mighty Sabalenka in the opening round.
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The 20-year-old wants to have the “class” of Federer and “attitude” of Nadal, she told the WTA last year.
The grit certainly showed in 2025 in becoming one of five teens to bag a women’s title, coming from 5-0 down and saving match points in her opener in Sao Paulo before going all the way.
It was there again on Sunday, especially in the early going.
The world No.118, competing in her first Australian Open main draw, didn’t appear overwhelmed as she took to the big stage and faced a top-40 player for the first time.
Instead, Sabalenka appeared shaky to start, missing first serves and getting broken immediately to trail 1-0. The last time she contested an official match at Rod Laver Arena, Madison Keys handed her an agonising defeat in last year’s final to deny the 27-year-old a third straight crown.
Sabalenka, however, broke back for 1-1.
Rakotomanga Rajaonah’s fellow French southpaw Hugo Gaston – who meets men’s defending champion Jannik Sinner in the first round – bamboozled the likes of Stan Wawrinka and Dominic Thiem with drop shots when he burst onto the scene at the 2020 French Open. Rakotomanga Rajaonah sprinkled in several beauties, though didn’t utilise the shot as much as Gaston did six years ago.
Lured to the net with one of those drop shots, then forced to back track chasing a lob, Sabalenka seemed to smile. She swivelled and won the point.
Sabalenka missed break points at 3-2 and 4-3 with her opponent in trouble both times prior to a pivotal ninth game.
Down 15-30 on her own serve, Sabalenka showed – again – that her success isn’t all down to power.
She raced to another drop shot when dragged towards the doubles alley and – seemingly with no other sensible choice to win the point – went hard down the middle.
Her shot struck the Madagascar-born Rakotomanga Rajaonah on her ponytail, with Sabalenka quick to apologise.
She hung on for 5-4, then duly broke to realistically see off her opponent.
Sabalenka exhaled and proceeded to grab 12 of the opening 15 points of the second set, and that was that.
“I didn’t know much about her,” said Sabalenka of Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
“I watched her previous (matches). It’s always tricky to play against someone young, someone you don’t know yet and also a lefty. I’m super happy I was able to close this match out in straight sets.”
It is now six years since Sabalenka last lost in the first round of a major – in Melbourne to a player with a similar style to Rakotomanga Rajaonah, Carla Suarez Navarro.
Rakotomanga Rajaonah left the court with a smile, with Sabalenka – and the rest of the masses – applauding her off.