Victoria Azarenka needed three hours and four match points on Monday to claim only her second win of the season as the former No. 1 defeated Anhelina Kalinina 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

The first-round win in Dubai broke a three-match losing streak dating to Brisbane on January 2, with the two-time Australian Open winner also beaten in Melbourne at the Open and last month in Doha

The 35-year-old who paved the way for tennis mothers returning to action a decade ago, erased deficits in the second and third set after losing the opening to her Ukrainian opponent.

No. 30 Azarenka, who lost the Dubai final a decade and a half ago to Venus Williams at the Aviation Club, recovered from 3-1 down in the second set to win it and square the match.

She then did the same in the deciding third, fighting back from a double break down and breaking her 50th-ranked opponent’s last two serves to advance on her fourth chance.

“I guess my fighting spirit really helped me to pull through,” Azarenka said.

“I had to find the way to get a little bit of consistency, play better, find the rhythm and execute properly.

“But it was a bit rough out there.”

The former Grand Slam champion admitted she is going through a difficult spell.

“I’ve been really struggling to find just my game at all.

“It feels just like my legs become heavy. I feel like I’m not making right decisions, even though in practice I play good sets.

“Today at least it’s a good thing that I was able to really compete. I would say that’s what saved me today.”

Azarenka is looking for her first title since 2020 Cincinnati; 20 of her 21 career trophies have come on hardcourts.

She will become the first opponent of the week for second seed Iga Swiatek, who has won the last three of their four career meetings. 

In other opening results, only 48 hours after winning the Doha title, Amanda Anisimova was ushered out in Dubai, losing 6-2, -3 to American McCarthy Kessler.  

Two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was home and dry on a stormy opening day in Melbourne, with the holder posting a 6-3, 6-2 thrashing of Sloane Stephens to start her campaign for a third consecutive title here.

The world No. 1 was all smiles after her night-match win in 71 minutes over 2017 US Open titleholder Stephens. 

“I’m happy to be back,” said the woman who began her 2025 season by winning the Brisbane title this month

“It’s always a tough match against her. I didn’t play my best tennis but I’m happy to do it in two sets.

Zheng Qinwen, the summer Paris Olympic gold medalist who lost the final here a year ago to Sabalenka, also advanced on schedule, defeating Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni 6-5 (23), 6-1.

Zheng finished it off on her first match point with an eighth ace.

Fittingly, last year’s ace leader Zheng converted her first match point with her eighth ace of the day.

“Actually, I (felt) really nervous,” the winner said. “I started to feel nervous already since yesterday, because I felt special emotion for Australian Open.

“When I feel nervous, actually, I  play better. I’m more concentrated. I make less unforced errors, mistakes.”

She added: “”It is a tough match today. “I’m just happy to get through the first round, playing not my best tennis.”

Teenaged Mirra Andreeva scored a victory, with the youngest player in the ranking top 20 defeating  Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-3 on the back of 27 winners.

The 17-year-old broke six times.

“I now also like to step in and finish the point at the net,” Andreeva said.”I’m not afraid to step on the court and to go forward and to try to be even more aggressive.

Other women’s winners on the day of rain delays included Croat Donna Vekic, former US open finalist Leylah Fernandez of Canada, Spain’s Paula Badosa and Dane Clara Tauson.

Main photo:- Aryna Sabalenka does a victory dance after first wound win – by WTATennis.com

Injury-return veteran Kei Nishikori completed another great escape to make a winning start at the Australian Open on Sunday, with the Japanese overcoming Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3,

The fightback from two sets to love down into the second round at Melbourne Park by the 74th-ranked former US Open finalist came under a showcourt roof on an opening day rained out for much of the day by storms.

Skies finally cleared in early evening as officials rushed to get the programme caught up after tacking on the extra money-spinning day a year ago with cashflow likely the motivation.

Nishikori saved two match points on his way to victory while serving to stay in it at 4-5 in the third set.

The Asian hammered 23 winners during his return surge which ended after more than four hours.

“I almost forgot he had two match points. I tried to stay calm even though I was almost out of the tournament,” NIshikori said.

“I almost gave up. Match point and he was playing very good. First and second sets, he was on a roll. He almost deserved to win. But somehow, I fought back.”

The four-time Melbourne quarter-finalist hit his career peak 11 years ago when he got to the US Open final against Croat Marin Cilic.

Last week’s finalist in Hong Kong won his last tour title in Brisbane six years ago this month.

Sixth seed Casper Ruud needed to gather his skills to finally overcome good Spanish friend and stubborn opponent Jaume Munar, advancing to the second round 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.

The Norwegian whose father Christian reached the Melbourne four round more  than two decades ago, held off his training partner at the Nadal academy with  48 winners .

He finally got a grip on proceedings with a double break in the fifth set, advancing after nearly three and a half hours.under the Laver stadium roof as the weather raged periodically outside.

“I got a bit lucky at the end,” the winner said. “The fifth set could have gone either way

“But I stepped up and played some good point when I had to.”

Ruud now stands 10-6 over his career in five-set matches; he next plays the winner from Czech Jakub Mensik or Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili.

Finn Otto Virtanen was unable to hold onto his opening-set success with 20-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils came back for a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-4 result.

Australia suffered a first loss of the fortnight as France’s Hugo Gaston put out Omar Jasika

Main photo:- Kei Nishikori winning first round match – by Pete Staples/ATPTour.com