
MINSK, 16 January (BelTA) – The 2023 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, has kicked off in Melbourne, BelTA has learned.
World number 72 Ilya Ivashka of Belarus lost to world number 34 Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, 3-6, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, in the opener. The match lasted for three hours and 33 minutes.
Belarus' world number 24 Victoria Azarenka went off to a good start, defeating world number 203 Sofia Kenin of the United States, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) in two hours. Victoria Azarenka won the tournament in 2012 and 2013. Belarus' world number 38 Aliaksandra Sasnovich saw off world number 136 Brenda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic, 7-5, 6-2.
Belarus' world number 5 Aryna Sabalenka is set to take on world number 73 Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic.
The Australian Open prize money for 2023 is $51.5 million. Winners in the men's and women's singles events will get $2 million each. The tournament will be over on 29 January.