Elena Rybakina kickstarts her Australian Open campaign in dominant fashion against Aussie teen Emerson Jones

Elena Rybakina, the former Wimbledon champion, delivered a formidable performance against 16-year-old Emerson Jones on Tuesday, advancing to the second round of the Australian Open with a decisive score of 6-1, 6-1.

The sixth seed from Kazakhstan showcased her exceptional skills, skillfully directing the young Australian, who holds the title of world junior number one, around the Margaret Court Arena.

Rybakina recorded 11 aces and struck 26 winners, completing the match in a mere 53 minutes, thereby concluding Jones's inaugural Grand Slam experience prematurely.

"She has a bright future ahead and many years on the tour, but I am quite pleased with my performance," Rybakina remarked, reflecting on her previous loss in the final to Aryna Sabalenka two years prior.

Jones, a student at the National Tennis Academy in Queensland, is highly regarded in Australia and is expected to emulate the success of former Melbourne Park champion Ash Barty.

While trailing 5-1, Jones displayed her potential by creating three break points; however, Rybakina responded with four consecutive aces and a forehand winner to secure the first set.

Rybakina acknowledged that she had prepared for the match by studying Jones's gameplay. "I watched some of her matches," she stated. "It took me a couple of games to adjust to her hitting style."

Prior to the tournament, Rybakina stirred some controversy by expressing her desire to reinstate former coach Stefano Vukov into her team for the year's first Grand Slam.

Vukov, who played a pivotal role in Rybakina's Wimbledon victory in 2022, is currently under a provisional WTA suspension due to allegations of abusive behavior towards players, which he denies. Rybakina emphasized that Vukov had never mistreated her.

SportsLigue