Aryna Sabalenka opened her Wimbledon campaign with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over qualifier Teodora Kostovic on Centre Court. The top seed faced strong resistance in the second set but closed out the match in straight sets. Sabalenka offered praise for her 18-year-old opponent afterward.
Sabalenka secured the win after Kostovic made her Centre Court debut. The Belarusian noted the pressure of the occasion in her on-court interview.
"Yeah, she brought a really good fight. She stepped in a little more in the second set," Sabalenka said. "She pushed me a bit more. I’m happy I was able to close it in straight sets. I totally get it. Playing for the first time on Centre Court, it’s a lot of pressure. But I’m pretty sure she’ll deal with that much better next time."
Before the match, Kostovic had expressed confidence about facing the top seed. "Let’s see if she can deal with my power," she said after qualifying. "Of course, I can beat her. I can beat anybody when I’m in the zone."
Sabalenka’s next opponent is McCartney Kessler, who won her opening match 6-0, 6-0.