Former world number one Andy Murray turned back the clock in typically combative style and favorite Daniil Medvedev delivered a blockbuster second round performance with Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open on Tuesday. In the women’s draw, top-10 seeds Garbine Muguruza, Inga Swietek and Annette Kontaveit all made comfortable starts for their Melbourne title relegations, while Simona Halep and Aryna Sabalenka also won despite struggling with their serve. . Emma Radukanu, the US Open champion, was also victorious in her tournament debut, but was defeated at the first hurdle for her fellow 19-year-old Leyla Fernandez – the woman Radukanu defeated in the Flushing Meadows decider.
Canada’s Fernandez, seeded 23, lost 6-4, 6-2 to Australian wildcard Madison Inglis to the delight of the home visitors.
The first Grand Slam of the year is now in full swing after defending men’s champion and top seed Novak Djokovic’s relegation on Sunday and many are eager to move on from the Visa saga.
It’s easier said than done and Tennis Australia (TA), organizer of the so-called “Happy Slam”, said in a statement on Tuesday that they were “deeply sorry for the impact” on other players.
“As the Australian tennis family, we recognize that the recent events have been a significant distraction for all,” said TA without naming Djokovic.
– ‘Couldn’t ask for more’ –
If it had been a distraction to Murray, he didn’t show it.
The 34-year-old, as a wildcard, showed all the fighting skills that made him a three-time Grand Slam champion.
His epic five-set victory over 21st seed Nikoloz Basilashvili was highly symbolic – the Briton left Melbourne Park in 2019, not knowing if he would ever return due to hip trouble.
But here he was rolling back the years and going into the second round.
“It’s amazing to come back and win a five-set fight like this, I couldn’t have asked for more,” Murray said.
Such was no problem for Russia’s Medvedev, the second seed and favorite to lift his second Major, who made light work of 91st-ranked Henri Laxonen at the Rod Laver Arena, defeating the Swiss 6-1, 6-4, defeated 7-6. 7/3).
With Djokovic out of action and Roger Federer not in Melbourne due to injury, a draw has opened up for the 25-year-old Medvedev and Spanish great Rafael Nadal.
Medvedev, who lost to Djokovic in the final in Melbourne last year but then defeated the Serbian in the final of the US Open in September, played the fiery but talented Australian showman Kyrgios in round two.
One of the “Next Gen” young talents to challenge the “Big Three” of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer is Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The fourth seed was a comfortable winner in three sets over practice partner Mikel Yammer to advance his tournament.
– Radukanu flourishes –
In the women’s draw, Spain’s world number three Muguruza defeated 77th-ranked Frenchwoman Clara Burrell, who had reached the final at Melbourne Park two years ago, 6-3, 6-4.
Despite some early nerves and Sweetek, there was little trouble for Kontaveit as well, but Romania’s Halep was far from comfortable.
After a flawed clash with Poland’s Magdalena Frech, the former number one worked her way to a 6–4, 6–3 round, which saw 11 service breaks.
Second-seeded Sabalenka, who was reduced to tears in a disastrous lead for Melbourne and serving underarm, thanked Mark Philippoussis when he revealed the Australian former world number eight had caused some of his service problems. helped to remove.
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She was not perfect in her serve but managed to beat Storm Sanders 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.
In the last action of the day, Radukanu knocked out American Sloane Stephens – a former US Open champion – 6-0, 2-6, 6-1, giving Britain’s rivals a chance to sit down and take notice.
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