World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka commenced her Wimbledon campaign with a commanding straight-sets victory over Grand Slam debutant Teodora Kostovic in the Ladies Singles first round. Sabalenka, a three-time Wimbledon semifinalist, defeated Serbian qualifier Kostovic 6-2, 6-3 on Centre Court in just 64 minutes. She will next face McCartney Kessler, who won her match 6-0, 6-0 against Oleksandra Olinynkova.
It was a significant match for Kostovic, ranked 184th, as she faced a World No. 1 for the first time in her career. The 19-year-old displayed her powerful game against Sabalenka, who responded with 22 winners to Kostovic’s 10 winners and 25 unforced errors. Sabalenka took an early 4-0 lead in the first set and closed it out in just over half an hour, despite Kostovic’s efforts.
Sabalenka, who had previously lost to a World No. 1, handled Kostovic’s challenge well. The Belarusian player’s strong performance silenced her opponent and secured her a spot in the second round. Kostovic, known for her spirited on-court demeanor, tried to engage the crowd during the match, but Sabalenka’s consistency proved too much.
After the match, Sabalenka expressed her satisfaction with her performance, acknowledging Kostovic’s resilience. She closed the match in straight sets, receiving a warm reception from the crowd. With this victory, Sabalenka progresses to the next round at Wimbledon.
