The 2026 Australian Open kicked off in Melbourne on Sunday, with Aryna Sabalenka advancing comfortably while tennis icon Venus Williams made history as the oldest woman to compete in singles during the Open Era before falling in her first match.
Sporting the Nike Spring Slam Dress inspired by Serena Williams’ and Maria Sharapova’s iconic looks, the top-seeded Sabalenka struggled to find her rhythm early but ultimately prevailed against wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, 6-4 6-1, at Rod Laver Arena. After breaking her opponent’s serve to close out the first set, Sabalenka seized control early in the second, quickly building a 3–0 lead.