No. 1 Sabalenka Dominates Opening French Open Match in Paris

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka began her 2025 French Open campaign with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 victory over Kamilla Rakhimova, showcasing her powerful baseline game and serving five aces in just under an hour on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is seeking her first Roland Garros title, having previously reached the semifinals in 2023, and her commanding performance establishes her as a top contender. Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen also advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 win over former finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, extending her winning streak at Roland Garros to seven matches. Other notable results included Elina Svitolina's strong start and the early exit of Petra Kvitova, who was defeated by Viktorija Golubic. The tournament marks a new era following Rafael Nadal's retirement, with Sabalenka poised to potentially make a significant impact. Sabalenka's next opponent will be Jil Teichmann or qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini as she looks to continue her dominant form at Roland Garros.