TORONTO — The world’s top seed is back in action on her favorite surface at the National Bank Open, proudly presented by Rogers.
Aryna Sabalenka made a strong statement by defeating qualifier Moyuka Uchijima in straight sets (6-3, 6-3), marking her return to the NBO during the Round of 64 on Tuesday evening at Sobeys Stadium. The 28-year-old faced some challenges, as this marked her first match since a disappointing Round of 16 exit against Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon on July 5. However, she quickly overpowered her Japanese challenger.
“I’m pleased with my performance,” she expressed. “I’m satisfied with my determination. I anticipated some struggles after a brief hiatus, yet I was mentally and physically prepared.”
Although Sabalenka felt sharp, her match didn’t start exactly as planned. Uchijima broke her serve in the opening game and held easily in the next, surging to a swift 2-0 lead in the first set. Nevertheless, once Sabalenka found her rhythm, she powered through five consecutive games to seize control of the set.
Affectionately dubbed the “hard-court queen,” Sabalenka has clinched all four of her major titles (two each at the Australian and US Open) on this surface. She expressed her joy at returning to the hard courts in Toronto, despite the gusty conditions at Sobeys Stadium.
“For me, it’s excellent practice,” she said about the windy conditions. “I need to adapt after extended rallies and work on tricky positions so I can perform my best in high-stakes matches. I enjoy the challenging environment; it was a bit breezy with unpredictable bounces, which I actually find enjoyable.”
The second set commenced in a peculiar manner, with the initial five games resulting in service breaks. Sabalenka broke Uchijima’s serve but then faltered herself, giving Uchijima opportunities in the second and fourth games as her resilient opponent fought back.
There were moments of inconsistency in Sabalenka’s service, as she battled through six double-faults. Nonetheless, she claimed 74 percent of her first-serve points and, leading 3-2 in the second set, managed to hold serve in the fifth game to extend her lead to 4-2. Though Uchijima held serve to narrow the gap to 4-3, Sabalenka took charge afterward. On match point, she sealed her victory with a powerful overhead smash, breaking Uchijima one last time.
While that final point was a showcase of power, Sabalenka acknowledged her recent focus on finesse—mixing in delicate dropshots and an occasional serve-and-volley tactic.
“We practice these variations regularly,” she explained. “Right now, my emphasis is on simplifying my game. Today, I felt inspired to incorporate these elements, trusting my instincts. The practice pays off whenever I sense the right moment on the court.”
Sabalenka will aim to carry this momentum into her next match, set for Thursday against the seasoned Chinese player Shuai Zhang.
Earlier in the day, Canadian wild card Katherine Sebov sparked hope in her match against 10th-ranked Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine. Despite an early 4-1 advantage in the first set, the 27-year-old Sebov, who triumphed over Japan’s Aoi Ito on Sunday, ultimately fell short, losing the set 7-6 in a tiebreaker. She couldn’t recapture her earlier form and lost the second set without securing a game.
In addition to Kostyuk and Sabalenka’s victories, four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek of Poland kicked off her NBO campaign with an impressive 6-0, 6-3 win against Czechia’s Sara Bejlek. “It was a great match and a superb start to the hard-court season,” remarked Swiatek, the 2025 Wimbledon champion. “I performed with confidence and clarity in the first set. I encountered a few tricky moments in the second, particularly during a long game (32 points) before I held serve to lead 4-2. I’m pleased to have navigated that and ended strongly, marking a good match overall.”
Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Kostyuk all showcased their undeniable prowess in their opening NBO encounters, reminding fans of their commanding presence on the court.
