Sabalenka is serving first and is immediately put under pressure by her opponent after unforced errors on both backhand and forehand sides. Tauson doesn’t even have to do much to be honest, so shonky is Sabalenka’s radar early doors… 15-40 and then BREAK. Just like that, Tauson takes the first game and will now have her first service game to consolidate.

Sabalenka and Tauson begin their knock up in bright sunshine as the crowds spill into Rod Laver arena. Defending champion Sabalenka, dressed in Aussie yellow, strode onto the court with her headphones on and looked full of confidence, as well she might. Her opponent is the big serving Dane Clara Tauson, she has the most aces in the draw so far and stands an inch taller than Sabalenka. The stattos are only giving her a 9 per cent chance of victory but that seems a little low from what I’ve seen of her, If she gets into her groove then she can be very dangerous.

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