Last year's runner-up improved to a 3-0 record facing the Spaniard.
Channelling her spirit animal, the tiger, Aryna Sabalenka has held the top spot of the WTA rankings since October 2024 with remarkable consistency. She’s leading by example.
With that in mind, the world No.1 has now cleared the first hurdle in all of her past 22 Grand Slam appearances. The last opening round loss came at Australian Open 2020 to Carla Suarez Navarro.
Sabalenka demonstrated her champion's credentials once again on Tuesday, with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Staying out in front is anything but easy, always being the target for the chasing pack.
“I think we all feel pressure,” the top seed said. “That’s just part of this life, so you have to get used to it. It’s a little hard to ignore!”
As reward for her supreme level and turnover of results, Sabalenka was named Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2025 late last month.
“It’s so crazy. There are so many incredible women athletes, doing incredible things, inspiring,” the 28-year-old said. “Getting to win this award means a lot, I’m super honoured. I hope I deserve it, I hope that I’m a good example and the next generation take the best from me.”
Sabalenka is indeed setting a good example as is evident from her 25th straight-sets triumph of 2026.
A point of world-leading quality – which included Sabalenka curling a forehand defensive lob onto the baseline, and had Bouzas Maneiro sprinting to a drop shot, before a punchy volley – launched the world No.1 4-0 ahead.
The Spaniard erased that commanding lead. But up stepped the tiger again with a barrage of groundstroke winners at 5-4, applying too much pressure for Bouzas Maneiro to handle.
The second set followed a similar pattern with multiple ventures forward yielding success for Sabalenka to chalk up a 4-1 advantage. It swiftly turned into a second-round berth, where Sabalenka will meet French youngster Elsa Jacquemot or qualifier Linda Fruhvirtova.
The four-time Grand Slam champion geared up for Paris with a 4-2 record from two clay events. She took time to recharge physically and mentally and that has evidently worked, as she struck 29 winners on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Within those 29 points, Sabalenka transitioned forward to the net with ease, successfully claiming 13 of 18 such duels.
“I’m super happy that I’m able to come to the net, play lots of points there, it’s so much fun,” she said. “I’m super proud I’ve improved that part of my game and bring it on court.
"I'm super happy to be through. I feel like it was a tricky first-round opponent. Happy with the level I played, happy with the fight I brought."
The world No.1 is also a "good example" for showing her fans how to balance enjoyment and a life away from work with a frequent, yet tongue-in-cheek presence on social media.
"When I feel like it's too much, when I feel really exhausted doing it and I feel lazy doing it, I don't do it," Sabalenka said.
"But overall, I love doing social media. I love sharing myself with people. I love to show the life that I'm living. I like to show the positive side of the game. I like to show that it's okay to have fun outside of the tennis court but also be a hard worker.
"I just want the next generation to take that healthy approach to this, really tough life of an athlete. I feel like some players can go too much into the professional side of the game and forget about themselves as people off the court.
"That's why I'm trying to spread the positivity into society like that. I hope I make some people smile and makes their day happier."
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
