Photo credit: Adam Pretty/Getty
The retractable roof over Court Philippe Chatrier was closed.
That didn’t stop Aryna Sabalenka from remodeling Roland Garros on opening day.
Reconfiguring the red clay into a demolition den, Sabalenka stormed through nine straight games in a 6-1, 6-0 crushing conquest of Kamilla Rakhimova.
It is the most lopsided victory of Sabalenka’s Roland Garros career.
Launching her quest for a maiden Roland Garros crown with ruthless intent, Sabalenka raised her 2025 record to 35-6 scoring her 340th career victory.
“Of course I'm super-motivated, because I felt like last year I was really ready to be in the last stages of the tournament, but yeah, my body didn't really feel the same,” said Sabalenka, who fell to Mirra Andreeva in the 2024 quarterfinals. “Yeah, this year I'm motivated more than I was last year.”
World No. 1 Sabalenka more than tripled Rakhimova’s winner total—30 to 9—in a one hour thrashing that would not lasted that long if the Russian hadn’t taken a bathroom break after losing the 25-minute opening set.
“I’m super happy to be back in Paris,” Sabalenka told the crowd afterward. “I always love playing in front of you guys. I’m super excited for the French Open.”
A 2023 RG semifinalist, Sabalenka overpowered Rakhimova converting five of 11 break-point chances.
Blistering big shots down the line, Sabalenka broke for 2-0 with a forehand strike down the line.
World No. 75 Rakhimova denied the first-set bagel holding at 30 for 1-3.
That was a brief reprieve from the Belarusian’s onslaught.
The top-seeded Sabalenka slammed an ace down the T that helped her hold at 15 for 4-1.
A commanding Sabalenka smacked an ace down the T sealing the 25-minute opening set.
Though Rakhimova tried to reset with that bathroom break, Sabalenka broke to start the second set.
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The Russian’s best shot to hold came in a nine-minute third game. A swarming Sabalenka broke for 3-0.
Sliding her fifth ace down the T, Sabalenka earned match point and closed with a backhand drop shot.
The two-time Australian Open champion, who has reached finals in six of her prior nine tournaments in 2025, continues her quest for a maiden Roland Garros crown. Sabalenka will face Swiss Jil Teichmann or Italian qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini in round two with former Charleston champion Danielle Collins a possible round three opponent if the seeds hold true to form.