Canada's Leylah Fernandez notches opening round win at Australian Open

It was worth the wait for Canadian Leylah Fernandez.

Fernandez defeated Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva 7-5, 6-4 in her first-round women's singles match Sunday at the Australian Open. The contest was interrupted by a rain delay Saturday with Fernandez leading 5-3 in the opening set.

The 30th-seeded Fernandez, of Montreal, faces Spain's Cristina Bucsa in second-round action Tuesday.

Fernandez captured the first-round contest despite registering only two aces — Starodubtseva had six — and committing six double faults, two more than her opponent. But the Canadian, the 2021 U.S. Open runner-up, did earn five breaks on 10 attempts while the Ukrainian converted on three-of-11 chances.

WATCH | Fernandez earns straight-sets win:

Montreal's Fernandez advances with opening round win at Australian Open

Canada's Rebecca Marino will play her first-round women's singles match Monday Britain's Kaite Boulter on Monday.

In other action, Aryna Sabalenka took her first step toward a third consecutive Australian Open title as the top-seeded Belarusian breezed to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Sloane Stephens.

Sabalenka had 20 winners and broke Stephens, who won the 2017 U.S. Open, on five occasions from 13 break points.

Afterward, Sabalenka shared a bit of a lighter side when asked about her tradition of posting a pre-tournament dance routine on social media.

"I'm not the best dancer, but I try my best," Sabalenka said after extending her win streak at hard-court majors to 15 matches. She is bidding to become the first woman since Switzerland's Martina Hingis to record a three-peat at the Australian Open (1997-99).

Sabalenka was able to dance around a rough patch in the first set after Stephens won three straight games to pull within 4-3.

"I think