The open
French Open: Sabalenka Eases Past Maneiro Challenge In Straight Sets
Sabalenka arrived in Paris following a somewhat uneven clay-court season compared to her dominant form earlier this year. She made history as only the fifth woman in the Open Era to achieve the Sunshine Double. Recent losses to Hailey Baptiste in Madrid and Sorana Cirstea in Rome had raised some doubts. Additionally, Bouzas Maneiro came into the match with a reputation for causing upsets in Grand Slam opening rounds. The Spaniard famously defeated defending Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in 2024 and surprised Emma Navarro at Roland Garros last year.
Despite this, Sabalenka maintained control throughout the match. She jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first set and quickly pushed ahead to 5-0 in the second, overwhelming her opponent with her power and accuracy. Her backhand sliced through the court repeatedly, and her growing confidence at the net added a new aspect to her game.
