Paolini and Sakkari Advance on Australian Open Day 1
No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini and Maria Sakkari shake off early-season rust to claim straight-set wins, setting sights on breaking through in Melbourne’s second week.
On the sun-drenched courts of Melbourne Park, Day 1 of the 2026 Australian Open kicked off with familiar faces delivering under the glare. No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini overpowered qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-1, 6-2, never once trailing as her baseline depth dictated every exchange. Maria Sakkari, Greece’s top player and a former Top 10 force, erased a 4-1 first-set deficit to dispatch Leolia Jeanjean in straight sets, her resolve turning murmurs into roars across the grounds.
Both arrived in Melbourne carrying the weight of United Cup campaigns—Paolini for Italy, Sakkari for her nation—now channeling that intensity into Grand Slam pursuits. Each has reached the fourth round here before, a career best they’re eager to eclipse on these bouncy hard courts. With the tournament’s Scores, Draws, and Order of play mapping the path ahead, these openers signal building momentum.
Paolini imposes rhythm early
Paolini’s match unfolded like a clinic in control, her heavy topspin forehands pushing Sasnovich back from the baseline on Rod Laver Arena. She faced just one break point in the opening game, saving it when her opponent netted a backhand, then firing a forehand winner to hold. The Italian’s 1–2 pattern—serve followed by a low slice to the body—disrupted the qualifier’s flat returns, leading to quick breaks and a first set wrapped in under 25 minutes.
Sasnovich fought for every point, saving break points in the two games she claimed in the second set with crosscourt passes and deep underspin. But Paolini stayed composed, converting her fourth match point at 6-1, 5-1 after the qualifier clawed out of 15-40 with two of her nine winners. This victory marks Paolini’s entry into her 25th career Grand Slam main draw, a quiet milestone amid her push for deeper runs on faster surfaces.
Sakkari rallies with fierce resolve
Sakkari’s opener tested her early, as back-to-back forehand errors at 30-30 handed Jeanjean a break for a 2-0 lead in the first set. The Greek star reset swiftly, unleashing five straight games with aggressive inside-in forehands that pulled her opponent wide on the outer courts. Her serve became a weapon after that slip, facing only one break point all match and using kick serves to set up down-the-line backhands.
The second set mirrored the surge, Sakkari again reeling off five consecutive games to close it out—her eighth first-round win in 11 Melbourne appearances. Jeanjean’s flatter strokes struggled against the surface’s grip, allowing Sakkari to redirect pace with topspin returns and net rushes. This straight-sets grind, with just nine games lost combined between the pair, eases the mental toll from national team duties.
Momentum builds for Melbourne breakthroughs
For Paolini and Sakkari, these efficient triumphs dissolve opening-round pressures, preserving energy for the draw’s escalating challenges. Paolini’s unflinching hold game suits the plexicushion’s bounce, while Sakkari’s comebacks reveal a mindset forged for extended rallies. As night sessions heat up and potential seed clashes loom, both carry quiet confidence, ready to extend their Australian Open legacies beyond the fourth round.
