Sabalenka powers past Branstine in routine opener at Wimbledon

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka saw off Canada's Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5 to get her quest for a first Wimbledon title up and running on Monday. The Belarusian's win set up a second round clash with Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.

Sabalenka turned up the heat early to grab the opening five games, looking primed for a quick finish.

But Branstine earned loud applause when she finally got on the scoreboard, and even though the World No. 2 wrapped up the first set shortly afterward, the second turned into an intense duel of fierce baseline rallies.

The Canadian qualifier served up several big aces as she stayed ahead in the second set, but Sabalenka sensed her chance at 5-5, breaking after forcing her opponent to send a forehand into the net, and then wrapping up the win with a solid hold.

Sabalenka, who pulled out of last year's Wimbledon Championships due to a shoulder injury, arrived this time with genuine title prospects.

"I think the goal is to win as quickly, as easier as possible, so physically you're more fresh in the next rounds. But I think it was really good for me to have this little fight in the second set, just to see where my level is, and if I'm mentally ready to fight," said Sabalenka.

Meanwhile, fourth seed and 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini of Italy battled back from a set down to defeat Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, sealing a place in the second round.

In other action, China's Yuan Yue lost to Germany's Eva Lys in three sets to bow out in the opening round.

Yuan was broken immediately and fell behind 1-0 in the opening set. The 26-year-old responded by breaking back in the fourth game to pull level at 2-2. But Lys laid down a powerful backhand to take the set 6-4.

In the second set, Yuan saved two match points to pull level at 5-5. She then stood up to the pressure, and forced her opponent to make several mistakes on the baseline, before claiming the hard-fought frame by a margin of 7-5. Lys then broke Yuan again to go in front 4-1 in the decider, before wrapping things up 6-2 to seal her spot in the second round in London.

Another Chinese player, Zhang Shuai, came up short in the first round against Olga Danilovic.

The Serbian broke Zhang twice to dominate the opening set 6-2, and maintained her momentum to move in front 2-1 in the second set. Danilovic continued to show her strength through a series of sharp attacks, converting three break-point opportunities over the course of the contest.

With good foot-work on the baseline, the 24-year-old landed a nice forehand down the line to claim the set 6-4 and punch her ticket into the second round.