Staff Reporter.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka overcame Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine to get her quest for a first Wimbledon title up and running with a 6-1 7-5 win.
Before the match, the Belarusian had said that the only thing she knew about her opponent was that she was “so beautiful” in reference to Branstine working as a model to fund her tennis career.
Sabalenka broke Branstine twice in a one-sided first set as the Canadian struggled with her serve.
But with the temperature reaching 30C, Sabalenka was able to break the deadlock in the 11th game of the second set before serving it out to avoid having to spend any more time in the sweltering conditions.
“I’m super happy to be back, to be healthy and to compete at this beautiful tournament,” said Sabalenka, who is chasing a first Wimbledon title.
“I was really depressed last year that I couldn’t feel this atmosphere. I’m super happy with the performance of course. I’m super happy to get through.”
She will face either last year’s surprise quarter-finalist Lulu Sun of New Zealand or Czech Marie Bouzkova in round two.