Melbourne, Jan 14 (UNI) Sixth seed Elena Rybakina made a commanding start to her Australian Open 2025 campaign with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-1 victory over Australian wildcard Emerson Jones in just 53 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.
Rybakina, a finalist at the tournament in 2023, showcased her formidable serve, averaging 174 km/h, and overwhelmed her 16-year-old opponent with 26 winners here on Tuesday.
The Kazakh’s allround precision proved too much for Jones, who managed six winners but was hampered by six double faults in her Australian Open main draw debut.
The spectators rallied behind the young Queenslander, whose spirited effort was eclipsed by the experience and consistency of her opponent. Rybakina’s defensive play under pressure was evident as she saved three break points with three aces during the first set, leaving no room for a comeback.
In the next round, Rybakina will face American wildcard Iva Jovic, another first-time opponent, as she continues her quest for a maiden Australian Open title.
