- Aryna Sabalenka dazzled fans at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night
- She earned her spot in the second round by beating Sloane Stephens.
- The Belarusian would perform a strange dance after the game
Defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka booked her way into the second round of the tournament on Sunday night by sealing a straight sets victory against former US Open champion Sloane Stephens.
But there was a strange moment after the match when presenter Jelena Dokic challenged the 2024 Australian Open champion to dance.
Dokic played several of the 26-year-old's dance TikToks on the big screen, and Sabalenka said, “I'm doing the best I can, I'm not the best dancer, but I'm doing the best I can.”
But Dokic, pressed further, told the world number one: 'I have a question. You always dance but there is no one in the crowd. So I have an idea…'
Sabalenka appeared to blush before saying, “Only if the whole crowd joins me!”
'Of course, but how about we dance? If you want I can dance with you,' Dokic said.
Aryna Sabalenka paused for a moment to dance on the Rod Laver Arena court on Sunday
It came after the defending champion (left) beat Sloane Stephens (right) in their first round clash.
And he added: 'Show us the moves!'
The tunes began to be played at full volume on the tannoy system inside the Rod Laver Arena, and the pair subsequently began showing off their dancing skills.
Australian actress Rebel Wilson in the crowd was seen standing dancing, while Sabalenka and Dokic danced on the court.
“Now they've approved that I'm the worst dancer,” Sabalenka said into the microphone, laughing after the joke.
Sabalenka impressed on Sunday against Stephens taking a 4-0 lead in the first set.
As she struggled to fend off the American's advances, with Stephens breaking twice, she would close with a break of her own before serving for set point.
The 26-year-old again put pressure on her opponent in the second set and this time was more clinical on her own serve, not allowing Stephens to hit her back before she took the match.
She raised eyebrows earlier this week by dropping a bombshell about when she might retire.
“Now I don't run as much. I need to save my hips and my back,” she said, reflecting on when she used to run along the Yarra River as a younger player.
“I'm 26, 27 this year, oh my God, 27 this year,” he said.
“I played in an exhibition with Mirra Andreeva; I am nine years older than her. Nine. Being a professional athlete, I am getting very close to retirement. Can you believe that? People retire at 30.'
Sabalenka earned a 6-3 6-2 victory against her opponent and got off to a good start to her title defense in Melbourne.
They pressed her again about her future.
“I don't know, it's a difficult question,” he said.
“I hope to have a family. I love children, I don't want to have my first child at 35.
'I really want to have a child and then come back. I want my son to see how hard you have to work in life to achieve things. So yeah, I don't know. “That is a very deep conversation.”