Novak Djokovic overcame a tricky problem to advance to the second spherical of the Australian Open on Monday, becoming a member of Carlos Alcaraz and defending champion Jannik Sinner.
But residence favourite Nick Kyrgios is not going to be a part of them because the flamable Australian did not clear the primary hurdle, swearing and in ache.
In the ladies’s draw, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff powered via with minimal fuss as they sought to dethrone two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
On a blockbuster second day in Melbourne, Djokovic misplaced the primary set to 107th-ranked American Nishesh Basavareddy within the prime-time night match on Rod Laver Arena.
But the Serbian nice, hoping to roll again the years and win an Eleventh Australian Open and file twenty fifth Grand Slam singles title, recovered to drag via 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Djokovic was animated on the finish and struggled to lift a smile.
Italian world No. 1 Sinner was taking part in beneath a cloud after twice testing optimistic for traces of a steroid in March.
He denies wrongdoing and was cleared by tennis authorities, however the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed and is in search of to ban him for as much as two years.
Sinner was warmly welcomed on the Rod Laver Arena earlier than defeating Chile’s Nicolas Jarry 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.
“I was curious to see how it was. You never know what’s happening,” he mentioned concerning the reception.
“I was happy about the crowd,” mentioned Sinner, who has not tasted defeat since dropping to Alcaraz within the Beijing ultimate in October.
Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion however by no means a winner in Melbourne, had a few furry moments earlier than seeing off the problem of Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko, 6-1, 7-5, 6-1.
“This is a tournament I really want to win one day, hopefully this year,” mentioned the 21-year-old Spaniard.
There was disappointment nonetheless for residence followers because the colourful however temperamental Kyrgios, solely lately again from 18 months out with damage, misplaced 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) to Britain’s Jacob Fearnley.
Kyrgios spoke to physios a number of instances within the second set after wincing in ache whereas serving and firing expletives at his teaching field.
Earlier, the Eleventh-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas turned the primary main casualty when Alex Michelsen blasted previous him 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
The 26-year-old Greek, who performed Djokovic within the 2023 ultimate at Melbourne Park, by no means seemed comfy in opposition to the Forty second-ranked American.
“It just sucks in a way that I’ll be hanging around for quite a while now before my next tournament comes in,” mentioned Tsitsipas.
Two-time US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe vomited twice on courtroom earlier than pulling via in 5 units in opposition to Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.
Gauff sends warning
The girls’s draw offered few upsets on day two.
Red-hot world quantity three Gauff laid down a marker as she swept apart former Melbourne champion and fellow American Sofia Kenin.
Gauff is unbeaten this yr after main the US to United Cup glory and eased previous the 2020 Australian Open winner 6-3, 6-3 in 80 minutes.
“I knew it was going to be difficult, but you know, I’m happy with how I played,” mentioned Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion.
Women’s world quantity two Swiatek defeated Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-4 to get her match up and operating.
The Pole has received 5 Grand Slams however her finest efficiency at Melbourne Park is the semi-finals in 2022.
“For sure it wasn’t an easy first round, so I’m happy that I’m through,” mentioned Swiatek.
Victoria Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 champion, was a notable early loser because the Belarusian went down 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) to Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti.
US Open finalist Jessica Pegula, the seventh-seeded American, blew away residence participant Maya Joint 6-3, 6-0.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, later faces 67th-ranked Caroline Garcia in a repeat of final yr’s first-round conflict that the French participant received.
Source: www.dailysabah.com