World No.1 Sabalenka Wins French Open Opener Dominating Rakhimova

World number one Aryna Sabalenka began her 2025 French Open campaign with a dominant performance, defeating Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-0 in just under an hour on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Sabalenka showcased her power with 30 winners, five aces, and five breaks of serve, winning nine consecutive games to close out the match. Despite not having won the French Open before, Sabalenka is viewed as a strong favorite this year, especially as defending champion Iga Swiatek faces a challenging draw and a dip in form on clay. Sabalenka is set to face either Jil Teichmann or qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini in the next round, with potential later matches against Chinese eighth seed Zheng Qinwen and Swiatek herself. The tournament marks a new era at Roland Garros following Rafael Nadal's retirement, with top players including Sabalenka and defending champions Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz competing for the title. Sabalenka's emphatic start signals she is a serious contender for her first French Open crown.