Aryna Sabalenka, the World No. 1, launched her French Open 2025 campaign with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Tuesday, 26 May, completing the job in just 1 hour and 15 minutes. The win extended Sabalenka's remarkable first-round Grand Slam winning streak to 22 consecutive matches, a run stretching back to the 2020 Australian Open.

Dominant from the Start

Sabalenka wasted no time establishing control, racing to a 4-0 lead in the opening set before pushing ahead to 5-0 in the second. Her trademark power game was on full display, with a penetrating backhand slice and an increasingly confident net presence giving Bouzas Maneiro few answers. The top seed's accuracy and aggression made it a one-sided contest for long stretches.

Bouzas Maneiro's Brief Resistance

The Spanish qualifier was not without her moments. She clawed back to 5-4 in the first set after Sabalenka shanked a smash, and produced flashes of quality in the second — including a sharp angled backhand volley and a daring backhand down the line. Notably, Bouzas Maneiro arrived in Paris with a reputation for Grand Slam upsets, having defeated defending Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in 2024 and upset Emma Navarro at Roland Garros last year. None of that pedigree translated on Tuesday.

Sabalenka's Net Game: A New Weapon

A standout theme of the match was Sabalenka's growing comfort at the net — an area she has worked hard to develop. 'That is the most enjoyable part of the game right now,' she said in her on-court interview. 'That I am able to come to the net, play points there, and it is so much fun. I am so proud I was able to improve that part of the game and to bring it on court.' Whenever Bouzas Maneiro threatened to build momentum, Sabalenka reset with clean winners from both flanks and a string of dominant return games.

Context: A Patchy Clay Season

Sabalenka arrived at Roland Garros having navigated a mixed clay-court swing. Earlier losses to Hailey Baptiste in Madrid and Sorana Cirstea in Rome had prompted questions about her form on the surface. She does, however, carry the distinction of being only the fifth woman in the Open Era to complete the Sunshine Double — a title haul at both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season — underscoring the depth of her game across conditions.

What to Watch Next

Bouzas Maneiro double-faulted on match point, bringing a clean close to Sabalenka's first-round assignment. The world number one will now prepare for her second-round fixture as she bids to add a first French Open title to her two Australian Open crowns and one US Open trophy. With her net game sharpened and her power as reliable as ever, Sabalenka enters the draw's later rounds as the clear favourite.