Aryna Sabalenka wary of 'nothing to lose' Sloane Stephens in Australian Open 1R

Aryna Sabalenka will face Sloane Stephens in the opening round of the 2025 Australian Open. The defending champion expressed caution, recognizing the danger Stephens poses with a "nothing to lose" mindset.

On Friday, January 10, Sabalenka sat down for a pre-tournament press conference ahead of the 2025 Australian Open. The Belarusian was asked about her first-round opponent, 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens. The 31-year-old is facing a slump in form but Sabalenka believes that might create a "nothing to lose" mindset.

"We had great battles in the past. I think right now she kind of like in the mode of nothing to lose. She can play really great tennis. I expect a great battle. Yeah, looking forward to facing her again," Aryna Sabalenka said.

Stephens endured an eight-match losing streak after her first-round victory at Wimbledon in July, winning just two sets during this stretch. In the new season, she is currently on a two-match skid, having suffered back-to-back opening-round losses to fellow American Ann Li at the ASB Classic and Hobart International.

Meanwhile, Sabalenka began the 2025 season in dominant form, capturing the title at the Brisbane International. The World No. 1 cruised to the final without dropping a set but faced a tough challenge from Polina Kudermetova, losing the opening set. The 26-year-old, however, staged a strong comeback to clinch the victory.

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Aryna Sabalenka leads the head-to-head against Sloane Stephens 4-0

Sloane Stephens (L) and Aryna Sabalenka at the 2023 French Open - Source: Getty

Aryna Sabalenka and Sloane Stephens have faced off four times on tour, with the Belarusian player winning all their encounters. Their first meeting came in the 2017 Fed Cup when Sabalenka, then a teenager, triumphed in three sets just weeks after Stephens had captured the US Open title.

The pair's second meeting was in 2021 in Montreal, where Sabalenka secured another hard-fought victory in three sets. Their third clash occurred in 2022 in San Diego, with Stephens losing 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. Most recently, they faced off in the fourth round of the 2023 French Open, where the Belarusian continued her dominance, winning 7-6, 6-4.

Sabalenka and Stephens are set to face off at the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, January 12, marking their fifth encounter. The 26-year-old Belarusian will embark on her campaign to join an elite group as only the sixth woman in the Open Era to achieve a hat-trick of Australian Open titles.