By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Aryna Sabalenka launched her bid for a third successive Australian Open title with a storm of power hitting and a 6-3 6-2 demolition of former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens on Sunday.

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus cruises to easy win over USA's Sloane Stephens as other matches are delayed by wet weather.

Aryna Sabalenka has started her bid to become the first woman in a quarter-century to win three consecutive Australian Open titles with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 2017 U.S. 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-3,

Aryna Sabalenka began her Australian Open title defence with a display of power hitting to crush Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-2 on Sunday. It was by no means peak Sabalenka, with the world number one broken twice by her American opponent in a wayward first set in the evening clash at Rod Laver Arena.

Sabalenka will soon embark on her quest for three consecutive titles at the Australian Open. To highlight that exciting story, Nike dropped an advertisement that is already an instant classic. Check out the 40-second Instagram video below.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season’s first major, ruling out a replay of last year’s semifinal encounter.

Aryna Sabalenka began her Australian Open title defence with a display of power hitting to crush Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-2 on Sunday.

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka begins her Australian Open bid with victory over fellow Grand Slam winner Sloane Stephens.

Aryna Sabalenka began her quest for a third successive Australian Open title with a decisive win over Sloane Stephens. She took 71 minutes to secure the victory, aiming to match Martina Hingis's record.

World No. 1 and defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated Sloane Stephens in her first round match.