World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka secured a spot in the Australian Open third round by defeating Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3, 6-1 in just 32 minutes. This victory marked Sabalenka’s 25th singles match win as the top-ranked player and placed her among a select group of six players achieving this milestone since 2000.
Sabalenka, a two-time champion, extended her winning streak to seven matches in 2026 with a dominant performance. Despite facing some challenges early on, she maintained her composure and secured her place in the third round for the sixth consecutive year. Notably, she has a perfect 7-0 record in both 2026 and second-round matches at the Australian Open.
Although Bai struggled to match Sabalenka’s pace, she displayed resilience by fending off multiple break points. Sabalenka’s strong game plan ultimately led her to victory in 74 minutes, setting up a third-round clash against either Emma Raducanu or Anastasia Potapova.
In another match, Elina Svitolina continued her impressive form in 2026 with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Linda Klimovicova. Svitolina is set to face Diana Shnaider in the third round, marking the first guaranteed seeded match of the tournament. Shnaider’s remarkable comeback win against Talia Gibson sets the stage for an exciting matchup in the next round.
