Tue Jan 14 04:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Teenager Jones to Face Rybakina in Australian Open Upset; Sabalenka Begins Title Defence
**Melbourne, Australia –** The Australian Open 2025 is set to kick off with a fascinating first-round matchup. Wildcard entry and 16-year-old Emerson Jones, a World No. 1 junior and rising star, will face reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. The news was confirmed during a pre-tournament press conference on Saturday, where Jones revealed her admiration for Rybakina’s fierce rival, Aryna Sabalenka.
Jones, who made her tour debut at the 2025 Adelaide International, boasts an impressive junior record and a solid start to her professional career, having already taken a set off Daria Kasatkina. The match against Rybakina promises to be a significant test for the young player.
Meanwhile, reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka begins her quest for a three-peat against Sloane Stephens on Sunday, the opening night of the tournament. Sabalenka holds a perfect 4-0 record against Stephens, their last meeting being a straight-sets victory at the 2023 French Open. The Belarusian’s path to a third consecutive title will be challenging, though, given her past encounters with the likes of Coco Gauff and Barbora Krejcikova, whom she overcame en route to the title last year. The clash between Jones and Rybakina adds another layer of intrigue to an already exciting Australian Open.
First Piper 