New Delhi: Top ranked Aryna Sabalenka overcame early jitters to beat Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3 6-1 to progress into theird round of Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday.

The Belarusian, a winner at Melbourne Park in 2023 and 2024, raced to a 5-0 lead only to falter as she was broken back by her Chinese opponent, who won three games in a row.

Though Sabalenka grew increasingly agitated but eventually won the opening game and then steadied herself in the second set to dispaly the gulf in quality between the two players.

“Tricky opponent, she really stepped in on the first set and for a moment I felt: what shall I do? She’s crashing it,” the 27-year-old said after her win on Rod Laver Arena.

“There’s always a little gap to improve but I’m happy that in that game I didn’t lose it and I was focused and I was trying to tell myself, one at a time, it’s going to come back.

“You’re ok, just keep fighting, keep trying and I’m glad I did it well.”

Sabalenka hit 14 of her 21 unforced errors in the match across the first nine games, and registered 24 winners in her victory.

Elina Svitolina continued her fine form with a second round 7-5, 6-1 win over Linda Klimovicova and is now set for first-career meeting with Diana Shnaider, who saved two match points against Australian wild card Talia Gibson to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

The Ukrainian won the ASB Classic in Auckland prior coming to Melbourne and remains undefeated this year so far.

Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez entered the third round of a Grand Slam for the second time with a 6-2, 6-4 win against Anna Bondar.

She had upset 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round and is set to face face Yulia Putintseva in the third round.

She became he first Turkish player to reach the last 32 at a Grand SLam in Wimbledon last year.