Sabalenka entertained the Melbourne crowd with some dancing on courtroom after the match, having constructed up a following on social media by posting movies of her dancing together with her staff on TikTok.
Quick changing into a fan favorite, she then went to take an image of the group with a polaroid digital camera earlier than realising it had run out of movie.
The highest seed will face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who knocked out British hopeful Sonay Kartal, within the subsequent spherical.
Rain affected proceedings on the surface courts on day one of many season’s first Grand Slam, however the Rod Laver Enviornment roof was open in time for Sabalenka’s night match after Zheng Qinwen, her opponent in final yr’s ultimate, beat Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni.
Sabalenka completed 2024 because the year-end world primary for the primary time and, starting her marketing campaign in Australia as two-time defending champion and prime seed, seemed in positive type as she raced to a 4-0 lead.
However Stephens, who has pedigree on the arduous courtroom as a former US Open champion, pegged Sabalenka again, breaking again twice for 4-3 as Sabalenka made a collection of unforced errors.
Typically animated on courtroom, Sabalenka roared in frustration at every mistake, waving her arms round in exasperation.
What had seemed prone to be a simple opening set of her marketing campaign turned out to be extra tough however the three-time Grand Slam champion transformed her fifth break level for 5-3 then served to take the set.
Sabalenka as soon as once more earned herself a double break within the second set and this time was capable of maintain on to her benefit over Stephens, who has not received a match since final yr’s Wimbledon.
In contrast, Sabalenka warmed up for the match by profitable the Brisbane – and she or he seems to be in positive type for a historic ‘three-peat’.