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Two-time Open champion Aryna Sabalenka wasn't at her best but managed a straight sets victory over Sloane Stephens in their Australian Open round one clash.
Aryna Sabalenka says her improved mental toughness is behind her rise to the top as she got her quest for a third successive Australian Open crown off to a winning start.
World No.2 Sabalenka faced American Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, under the Rod Laver Arena roof on Sunday evening and posted a 6-3 6-2 victory.
While she never appeared in danger of defeat, Sabalenka lacked her usual polish in the opening set, with her booming serve going missing.
The Belarusian roared to a 4-0 lead but twice dropped her serve to allow Stephens to claw her way back to trail 4-3.
But a steely Sabalenka regained control and was able to break the veteran world No.66 before serving the set out.
She said her old self may have sabotaged the match at that point.
"I think it's a big difference. Compare myself to even like three years ago, in that moment I would get frustrated and probably would lose the first set," Sabalenka said.
"I'm not sure if I would be able to win the match.
"I'm really glad that I improved my mental toughness - I'm able to stay focused no matter what the score, what the situation is. I'm focusing on the game, on the point. I'm focusing point by point."
The 26-year-old again took a commanding lead in the second set and kept the blinkers on to wrap up the win in 71 minutes, handing Stephens her eighth straight defeat since Wimbledon.
But with only two aces for the match, just 70 per cent of first serves finding the mark and 21 unforced errors, Sabalenka acknowledged there was work to do.
"It was not like I played my best but I'm just glad I was able to close it out in straight sets," she said.
"I really enjoy playing out there, and really happy with the win against Sloane, especially against someone really tough like her and in straight sets.
"That was really important."
Sabalenka is bidding to become the first player since Martina Hingis in 1999 to complete a Melbourne Park hat-trick.
She will face Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the second round.
