Daniela Hantuchova
Former world number five on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I absolutely love the way Aryna Sabalenka acts, the way she goes about everything. I think she saves so much energy by just being completely herself.

We have players who like to do their routines, who are very superstitious, but she really doesn't have a filter. She just goes for everything, even her serves and her shots, like she does in everyday life.

I think it's great that we have such a role model at the top of the game.

Away we go. The defending champion Aryna Sabalenka gets us under way on Rod Laver.

Sloane Stephens is one of those names you just don't want to see your name against in the opening round of a Grand Slam.

A tricky opponent with huge experience on the hard courts.

Stephens' best run in Melbourne came in 2013 when she reached the semi-finals.

The 31-year-old hasn't won a match since Wimbledon last year but could she pull off a shock on day one?

Image source, Getty Images

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

Sonay Kartal is flying the British flag at the Australian Open today. The 23-year-old from Brighton is the only one of the seven singles representatives in action on day one.

Kartal is competing in the main draw at an overseas Grand Slam for the first time, having enjoyed the finest season of her career in 2024.

What makes the British number three's rise even more remarkable is she feared she would not be able to play after a health scare.

Read all about Kartal's story here.

An important point for Sonay Kartal as she gets on the board for 15-30, with Jessica Bouzas Maneiro closing in on the first set.

But the Spaniard crashes a backhand winner down the line for her first couple of set points, before settling it inside half an hour. Dominant.

Aryna Sabalenka begins her title defence against former US Open champion Sloane Stephens, who is now ranked 66th in the world.

Sabalenka has won all four of their previous meetings but three of those have gone to three sets.

But this surface is where the Belarusian thrives, having won 27 of her past 28 matches at hard-court Grand Slams.

Image source, Getty Images

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

The Brits will be sick of the sight of Bouzas Maneiro if this carries on the way it is heading.

You may remember the 22-year-old Spaniard beat Katie Boulter at the US Open last year.

That day she showed lots of solidity from the baseline and is doing the same here so far.

Sonay Kartal just can't live with world number 54 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro at the moment.

The Spaniard has taken complete control of this first set and now she is looking to wrap it up at the earliest opportunity.

Kartal nets to hand over two game points. Another miss from the Briton, and that is five games in a row for Bouzas Maneiro.

It's almost time for the defending champ to take to court on Rod Laver.

Aryna Sabalenka made it back-to-back Australian Open triumphs in 2024. Now she's out for the treble.

Image source, Getty Images

The Belarusian would become the first woman to win three consecutive singles titles at Melbourne Park since Martina Hingis did so between 1997 and 1999 if she is successful.

Image source, Getty Images

But there's a long way to go - and no shortage of world-class rivals looking to dethrone her.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

An umbrella is back out on court five.

Don’t worry, it’s not because the rain has returned.

It’s to protect a couple of heads from the strong evening sun.

Impressively the brolly looks like a Sesame Street number.

Sonay Kartal is trying to weather a bit of a storm here as Jessica Bouzas Maneiro threatens to move the opening set out of reach.

Another break point for the Spaniard...and Kartal has no response.

Sonay Kartal is made to work hard on the opening point of her serve but does really well to hang in a rally long enough to see her opponent miss.

Full of confidence right now, however, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro fires back with a forehand winner and keeps applying pressure to reach deuce.

Image source, Getty Images

Sonay Kartal restores parity at 30-30 but concedes the game with a long backhand return.

That's three games in a row now for Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Work for the Briton to do.

Can Sonay Kartal produce an immediate response?

There are signs that Jessica Bouzas Maneiro has gone up a gear as she extends her run of points by opening a 30-0 lead before Kartal gets on the board.

There is the breakthrough.

A great start for Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who asserts herself at the start of the opening set with a break of serve to love.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

Kartal likes to be a disrupter. She describes herself as a player who tries to "wear an opponent down with variety".

We’ve seen glimpses of that already as she mixes her natural spin with flatter groundstrokes.

However, the Brit has also been quite loose with her returning.

And now there's pressure for Sonay Kartal to deal with.

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro makes a positive start with a forehand winner on her way to setting up three break points.

But Jessica Bouzas Maneiro does enough to hold out under pressure from Sonay Kartal.

Two games in 10 minutes. Could we be in for a long battle on on court five?

Solid serving from Jessica Bouzas Maneiro ensures she takes control with three consecutive points, but Sonay Kartal battles back to within a point, drawing an error with a powerful ground stroke.

Another brings the Briton to deuce. Really positive start, this.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwegian sixth seed Casper Ruud has avoided becoming the first top-10 casualty at the Australian Open - but only just.

The 26-year-old has won in five sets against Spain's Jaume Munar, eventually dominating the decider to make it safely through.

The three-time Slam runner-up, who has never been beyond the fourth round in Melbourne, takes it 6-3 1-6 7-5 2-6 6-1 in the final match of the opening day session on Rod Laver Arena.