World number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus advanced to the third round of the Australian Open today, after easily defeating China's Bai Zhouxuan 6:3, 6:1.
Sabalenka celebrated against the 702nd player in the world after 72 minutes of play.
The Belarusian took a 5-0 lead in the first set, then needed seven set points to close out the match. In the second set, she broke her opponent's serve three times and eventually converted the first match point to advance to the next round.
Sabalenka will play in the third round of the Australian Open against Austrian Anastasia Potapova, who defeated Briton Emma Raducanu 7:6, 6:2.
Ukrainian Elina Svitolina also secured a place in the third round, defeating Polish tennis player Linda Klimovich 7:5, 6:1. Her next opponent will be Russian Diana Schneider, who eliminated Australian Talia Gibson in three sets (3:6, 7:5, 6:3).
Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sonmez also advanced after defeating Hungarian Anna Bondar (6:2, 6:4), Kazakh Yulia Putintseva eliminated Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemo (6:1, 6:2), Klara Tauson from Denmark defeated Kazakh Polina Kudermetova (6:3, 3:6, 7:5), while Canadian Victoria Mboko defeated American Katie McNally (6:4, 6:3).
Bonus video:
