Elena Rybakina, the former Wimbledon champion, had a fantastic start at the Australian Open. She faced Emerson Jones, a young player from Australia, and won decisively with a score of 6-1, 6-1. The match on Margaret Court Arena lasted just 53 minutes.
Rybakina showcased her powerful game, hitting 26 winners and serving 11 aces. She converted five out of seven break points against Jones, who, despite being only 16, was a finalist at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon Juniors last year. Rybakina also defended against all three break points Jones had at 5-1 in the first set.
Next up for Rybakina is junior world No.2 Iva Jovic on Thursday. After her win, Rybakina praised Jones, acknowledging her potential for a bright future in tennis. “She has a great future. I’m happy with my performance,” Rybakina said.
Seeded sixth in the tournament, Rybakina aims for her second Grand Slam title, having lost in the final of the 2023 Australian Open to world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Before the tournament, controversy arose. Rybakina wanted to rehire her former coach, Stefano Vukov, who is currently under provisional suspension for alleged misconduct. They parted ways last August but Rybakina brought him back just before this event. Vukov has denied any wrongdoing.
Rybakina defended her relationship with Vukov, saying, “I’ve never made any complaints. He never mistreated me.” She was keen to focus on her games rather than the controversy.
Other top players, like Emma Navarro and Daria Kasatkina, also advanced in the tournament. Navarro had a tough match, winning 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5 against Peyton Stearns, while Kasatkina breezed through her match 6-1, 6-3 against Viktoriya Tomova.
On the previous days, former champion Naomi Osaka, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek, and rising star Coco Gauff also secured their spots in the next round, showcasing the strong competition this year.
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