‘Enjoy my Sunday’: Paolini powers on day one of Open
Darren Walton |
Jasmine Paolini plans on enjoying the Melbourne sunshine after wasting no time in becoming the first women’s big gun through to the Australian Open second round.
The seventh-seeded Italian needed just 69 minutes to see off Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-1 6-2 in the opening match of the tournament on Rod Laver Arena.
A two-time grand slam finalist in 2024, Paolini won all eight of her service games and broke her Belarusian opponent four times.
“Yeah, it was pretty good today. I didn’t expect that,” Paolini said.
“I mean, it’s always tough to play first round, especially against a qualifier like Aliaksandra and she has a crazy level.
“I think I played pretty good. I was solid, I was focused, so I’m happy.”
Paolini’s day didn’t start out quite so well.
“I said to myself, ‘Look, you didn’t smile since you get up, so smile a little bit because if not, you will step on court and you play bad’,” she said.
“For me, it’s important to enjoy my tennis, to enjoy being on court, play matches and so sometimes I force myself to smile more.”
Asked how she planned to celebrate, Paolini said: “It’s Sunday and I won, so I can enjoy the day – and it’s great.
“I will enjoy my Sunday now.”
Elina Svitolina is enjoying more than her Sunday, the 12th seed continuing her joyous summer with a 6-4 6-1 rout of Spaniard Cristina Bucsa.
The Ukrainian 12th seed is riding a six-match winning streak to start to year after reigning last week at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
Svitolina is loving life on tour more than ever, travelling with her retiring husband Gael Monfils and three-year-old daughter Skai.
“We enjoy a lot supporting each other in every single tournament and having somebody who really understands and supports you every step of the way,” said Svitolina, a three-time Open quarter-finalist.
“It’s special for us and for him, especially this year’s going to be very unique and with lots of different emotions and it’s going to be very enjoyable.
“From my side, I just have to be there for him and just happy to share the journey.”
Australian wildcard Talia Gibson earlier claimed the distinction of being the first winner of the 2026 Open, crushing Russia’s Anna Blinkova 6-1 6-3.
“I want to say thank you to everyone that came out. I couldn’t believe the number of people there were in here today. It means a lot,” the 21-year-old said.
So many spectators in fact flocked to Melbourne Park on day one that ground passes sold out, leaving many fans outside the gates disappointed.
“Attendees will still be able to purchase stadium tickets today,” said tournament director Craig Tiley.
Other early women’s winners included Greek star Maria Sakkari and Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
World No.1 and two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka will feature in the night session on RLA.
Sabalenka’s vanquished Brisbane International final opponent Marta Kostyuk and US legend Venus Williams are also in action on day one of the season’s first grand slam.
AAP
