Aryna Sabalenka launched her 2026 campaign in emphatic style, requiring just 47 minutes to dispatch Cristina Bucsa 6-0 6-1 at the Brisbane International on Tuesday.
The world number one and four-time Grand Slam champion was in ruthless form against the Spanish player, currently ranked 28th globally.
Sabalenka, who received a bye in the opening round, will next face Romania's Sorana Cirstea in the third round.
The Belarusian is the defending champion in Brisbane and will be looking to build momentum ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on January 18.
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Following her commanding victory, Sabalenka addressed the controversy surrounding her exhibition defeat to Nick Kyrgios in Dubai last month, where she lost 6-3 6-3 to the former Wimbledon finalist.
The world No 1 insisted the event served its purpose despite criticism from some quarters.
Sabalenka said: "It wasn't about proving something to anyone. It was about to show that tennis can be really huge and we can bring a lot of attention on the exhibition match, which usually never happens."
She added: "That exhibition, it was fun. It was a great challenge."
Aryna Sabalenka launched her 2026 campaign in emphatic style
|GETTY
The Belarusian maintained the match "brought so many eyes on tennis" and dismissed those who misunderstood its intentions.
Sabalenka revealed that facing Kyrgios had actually benefited her physical preparation for the season ahead.
She explained: "When you play against a guy, the intensity is completely different."
The Australian's unpredictable style of play proved particularly demanding for the world No 1.
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Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios have expressed bewilderment at the wave of criticism directed towards the event | REUTERSSabalenka added: "Especially when there is Nick, who is drop-shotting every other shot, you move a lot, so there was a great fitness for me."
The 26-year-old is seeking to recapture her best form at Melbourne Park, where she claimed consecutive titles in 2023 and 2024 before suffering a surprise final defeat to Madison Keys last year.
The Dubai contest drew criticism from several prominent figures in women's tennis, including six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, who declined to watch the match.
She suggested the women's game had progressed significantly since Billie Jean King's historic victory over Bobby Riggs in 1973.
Five facts for tennis fans | GETTY/PASome critics dismissed the exhibition as a publicity stunt that risked undermining the women's tour.
However, Sabalenka remained unfazed by the negative reaction.
She said: "There are always going to be people who don't like you, don't respect you, don't support you.
"But there are so many people who support me who really cheer me on and who find inspiration in me, and I'm focusing on that part."
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