Sabalenka Advances to French Open Third Round

PARIS: In a dominant display at Roland Garros, world number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame an initial challenge from Swiss player Jil Teichmann to secure a decisive 6-3, 6-1 victory on Wednesday, advancing her to the tournament’s third round.

Sabalenka, aiming for her first title in Paris, had an easy first-round match, conceding only one game to Kamilla Rakhimova. However, Teichmann, 27, provided a sterner test, gaining an early advantage and putting pressure on the top seed.

The left-handed Teichmann caused problems for Sabalenka in the opening set, but Sabalenka regained her composure to level the score at 3-3. She then broke Teichmann’s serve in the eighth game, seizing command of the match.

“She began very strongly, displaying her finest form. Playing against her is never straightforward,” Sabalenka commented. “Her range of shots is remarkable. I focused on establishing a rhythm and was relieved to maintain my serve after trailing 3-1. This boost gave me additional vitality. It was a demanding match where she pushed me to earn every point, and I am thrilled with the outcome.”

After securing the first set, Sabalenka continued her momentum into the second, executing a powerful backhand winner to break serve in the first game. From there, she continued her strong performance, moving to a 4-0 lead.

Sabalenka sealed her victory with a final break in the seventh game when Teichmann’s shot went long. She is now set to face another left-handed player, Olga Danilovic, who defeated Danielle Collins with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.