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Match Details
Fixture: (1) Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens
Date: January 12, 2025
Tournament: Australian Open 2025
Round: First Round (Round of 128)
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt
Prize Money: AUD $96,500,000
Live Telecast: USA - ESPN and Tennis Channel | UK - Eurosport | Canada - TSN and RDS | Australia - 9Now and Stan Sport | India - Sony Network
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens preview
Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka will lock horns with Sloane Stephens in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open on Sunday, January 12.
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Sabalenka enters the Melbourne Major on the back of a title win at the Brisbane International. The Belarusian secured four consecutive straight-set wins to reach the final of the WTA 500 event. She then fought from a set down to defeat Polina Kudermetova, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the summit clash.
Sabalenka is the defending champion at the Australian Open. She was dominant throughout the tournament last year, claiming the title without dropping a single set. She defeated the likes of Coco Gauff, Barbora Krejcikova, and Qinwen Zheng in her scintillating run to win the second Grand Slam title of her career.
Meanwhile, Stephens has had a horrid run so far this season. The American is winless after her ASB Classic and Hobart International campaigns. She suffered opening-round defeats against compatriot Ann Li in both Auckland and Hobart.
Last year's Australian Open saw Stephens make a third-round exit. The former World No. 3 defeated Olivia Gadecki and Daria Kasatkina before falling to Anna Kalinskaya. Her best record at the Grand Slam Down Under came in 2013 when she made a semifinal exit after losing to eventual champion Victoria Azarenka.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens head-to-head
The duo has faced each other on four occasions, with Sabalenka winning all of them. Their most recent encounter saw the Belarusian defeat Stephens 7-6(5), 6-4 in the 2023 French Open fourth round.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens prediction
Sabalenka will be keen to make a deep run and ideally defend her title at the Melbourne Major. The Belarusian has been in excellent form recently, losing just two matches in her last 14.
Stephens, on the other hand, has failed to win a single match in her previous seven tournaments. Her last victory on the tour came six months back at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
With her excellent form and superior overall play, Aryna Sabalenka enters the match as the firm favorite. The Belarusian's preferred surface is hard. It will be an uphill task for an out-of-form Stephens to deal with Sabalenka's physical strength and aggressive play.
Pick: Sabalenka to win in straight sets.
