Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens Preview & Prediction | 2025 Australian Open | First Round

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Aryna Sabalenka can go back-to-back-to-back at the Australian Open this year, and few would bet against that eventuality given her form heading into Melbourne.

Start date/time: Sunday 12th January, 2025, UK – not before 8:00am / US ET – not before 3:00am / US PT – not before 12:00am

Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia

Surface: Outdoor hard

How to watch on TV: UK – Eurosport / US – ESPN+

How to watch online: UK – Eurosport website & discovery+ / US – ESPN+ platforms

Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens ticket information

Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens Prediction

As the back-to-back Australian Open champion, it's no surprise that world number one Aryna Sabalenka comes into this edition of the major as the favourite to go all the way, and she did her prospects no harm at all by lifting the Brisbane International title last week.

The Belarusian, who also won her third Grand Slam title at the US Open last August, has reached the semi-finals or better in seven of the last eight majors she has participated in.

On paper, this looks like a potentially tough draw for the favourite, but opponent Sloane Stephens is not the force she once was. The American – a former world number three – has slipped way down the rankings and is some way off the form that made her US Open champion in 2017.

Stephens is also a former semi-finalist in Melbourne, but she lost first-round games at both the ASB Classic and Hobart International in the lead-up to the Australian Open. Unless she can find the old magic, this is likely to be a procession for Sabalenka as she kicks off her defence.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens Tip: Aryna Sabalenka to win 2-0