Two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has taken barely an hour to emphatically launch her season in Brisbane.
The Brisbane International runner-up in her last visit was ruthless in a 6-4 6-0 drubbing of Mexico’s Renata Zarazua on Pat Rafter Arena.
After a first-round bye, the Belarus talent took just 63 minutes to reach the third round with form that shows a three-peat in Melbourne Park next month was firmly on the radar.
“First match always a tricky one to see where your tennis is at,” the world No.1 said post-match.
“I’m glad I closed that first set and in the second it felt like whatever I would do would work.”
She’ll play 15th-seeded Yulia Putintseva in the third round, the Kazakhstani beating American Kessler McCartney 6-2 7-5 also on Tuesday.
Earlier, fourth seed Paula Badosa was a casualty, outpointed by Armenia’s Elina Avanesyan 6-3 1-6 6-2.
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au