Aryna Sabalenka opened her French Open title defense with a 6-4 6-2 win over Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, but the 28-year-old Belarusian insists the pressure of holding the top ranking for 84 weeks is something she has learned to ignore. Sitting 1,255 points clear of second-placed Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka knows a semi-final run from her rival would flip the WTA pecking order.

Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka in January's Australian Open final, must reach the semi-finals to become the 30th woman in WTA history to claim the number one spot. Sabalenka replaced Iga Swiatek at the top in October 2024 and has held steady since, though her Roland Garros record includes a loss to Coco Gauff in last year's final.

Sabalenka told the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd that pressure is simply part of life and she has gotten better at blocking it out. Her dominant first-round performance showed no sign of nerves, and she will look to extend her Paris campaign when she faces Coco Gauff next.