Sabalenka entertained the Melbourne crowd with some dancing on court after the match, having built up a following on social media by posting videos of her dancing with her team on TikTok.
Fast becoming a fan favourite, she then went to take a picture of the crowd with a polaroid camera before realising it had run out of film.
The top seed will face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who knocked out British hopeful Sonay Kartal, in the next round.
Rain affected proceedings on the outside courts on day one of the season’s first Grand Slam, but the Rod Laver Arena roof was open in time for Sabalenka’s evening match after Zheng Qinwen, her opponent in last year’s final, beat Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni.
Sabalenka finished 2024 as the year-end world number one for the first time and, beginning her campaign in Australia as two-time defending champion and top seed, looked in fine form as she raced to a 4-0 lead.
But Stephens, who has pedigree on the hard court as a former US Open champion, pegged Sabalenka back, breaking back twice for 4-3 as Sabalenka made a series of unforced errors.
Often animated on court, Sabalenka roared in frustration at each mistake, waving her arms around in exasperation.
What had looked likely to be a straightforward opening set of her campaign turned out to be more tricky but the three-time Grand Slam champion converted her fifth break point for 5-3 then served to take the set.
Sabalenka once again earned herself a double break in the second set and this time was able to hold on to her advantage over Stephens, who has not won a match since last year’s Wimbledon.
By contrast, Sabalenka warmed up for the tournament by winning the Brisbane – and she looks in fine form for a historic ‘three-peat’.
