Australian Open: Rybakina Cruises Into Second Round With Straight-Sets Win Over Kaja Juvan

Melbourne, Jan 20: Fifth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan began her Australian Open 2026 campaign with a composed straight sets victory over Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan, winning 6-4, 6-3 in the second match of the day at Margaret Court Arena on Tuesday.

The former Wimbledon champion and 2023 Australian Open finalist delivered a solid all-round performance to advance to the second round, where she will face France’s Varvara Gracheva. With the win, Rybakina maintained her perfect first-round record in Melbourne, securing her seventh consecutive opening round victory at the season’s first Grand Slam.

World No. 100 Juvan put up a spirited fight, but Rybakina’s power and consistency proved decisive. The Kazakh accumulated 22 winners, served five aces, and won an impressive 83 per cent of points on her first serve during the one-hour, 12-minute contest.

The opening set remained on serve until the closing stages, when Juvan faltered under pressure and Rybakina capitalised to clinch it 6-4. In the second set, Rybakina raised her return game, earning an early break and maintaining control despite a slightly tentative service game while closing out the match.

Rybakina sealed victory with a confident down the line ace, underlining her strong form. Although she committed more unforced errors than her opponent, she converted both break points she earned and allowed Juvan just one break opportunity, which went unconverted.

Having also defeated Juvan during her run to the final in 2023, the win carried a sense of déjà vu for Rybakina. Fresh from claiming the WTA Finals title at the end of 2025, she appears in formidable shape and joins fellow top contenders such as Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff in making an authoritative start to the tournament.