French Open 2025: Aryna Sabalenka began her women’s singles campaign at the French Open 2025 on a high as she qualified for the second round on Sunday.
She had defeated Kamilla Rakhimova by 6-1, 6-0 and qualified for the second round as she eyes her maiden French Open title.
Sabalenka won the match in just an hour and had broken Rakhimova’s serve five times and will lock horns with Switzerland’s Jil Tichman or Italy’s Lucrezia Stefanini during the Round of 32. Sabalenka had a head-to-head record of 2-0 against Rakhimova and had defeated her during the third round of French Open 2023. Sabalenka completely dominated the match on Sunday and was on a nine-match winning streak before this game.
She had dominated five aces and had hit 30 while winning the match on Sunday. It was the second consecutive time that Sabalenka qualified for the second round at the French Open and thus proved why she is considered one of the favorites to win the ongoing Grand Slam. She might also face China’s eighth-seeded Zheng Qinwen, whom she had defeated during the Australian Open summit clash last year. Sabalenka is on the verge of facing three-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek during the semifinal.
Since Swiatek is not at her absolute best this year, the ongoing Grand Slam has become quite open this year. Sabalenka’s best performance at the French Open has been qualifying for the semifinal way back in 2023.
Svitolina breezes past Somnez
Elena Svitolina qualified for the second round of the ongoing Grand Slam after defeating Zeynep Somneyz by 6-1, 6-1. Svitolina won the match in just one hour and 12 minutes to qualify for the second round. She was able to get six break points and received two aces as she hammered Sonmez.
Svitolina will lock horns with the winner of the match between Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Hungary’s Anna Bondar during the second round. Petra Kvitova lost to Viktorija Golubic in three sets and thus was knocked out after the first round.