World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her 2025 French Open campaign in emphatic style on Sunday, dismantling Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 victory. The Belarusian star, currently at the top of the WTA rankings, needed just an hour to book her place in the second round of the Grand Slam tournament held at Roland Garros in Paris.
Sabalenka wasted no time asserting her dominance on Court Philippe-Chatrier, breaking Rakhimova five times and not allowing her opponent any chance to find rhythm. Her aggressive baseline play, trademark powerful groundstrokes, and focused demeanor left no doubt about her intent to make a deep run at this year’s tournament.
The 27-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion has consistently been a formidable presence on the women’s tour, but the French Open title has eluded her so far. While Sabalenka has achieved success on hard and grass courts, the clay courts of Paris have proven trickier for her. Despite reaching the semifinals in 2023 and 2024, she has yet to make it to the final.
However, this year might just be her best opportunity yet. With three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek struggling with form and injuries heading into the tournament, the draw appears more open than it has in previous years. This adds an extra layer of intrigue and anticipation, especially as top players like Sabalenka look to capitalize on the uncertainty.
In the second round, Sabalenka will face either Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann or Italian qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini. While both are capable opponents, Sabalenka will enter the match as the heavy favorite, especially given her current momentum and commanding performance in the opening round.
Speaking after her win, Sabalenka expressed satisfaction with her performance and highlighted the importance of starting strong. “It’s always good to get the first match out of the way,” she said. “I felt confident out there and stuck to my game plan. The conditions were good, and I’m happy with how I played.”
Sabalenka’s fans will be hopeful that this dominant start is a sign of things to come. With her power, experience, and growing comfort on clay, she may finally be ready to break through and claim her first Roland Garros crown. If her opening match is any indication, Aryna Sabalenka is not just participating in this year’s French Open — she’s here to win it.