The second day of the Australian Open smiles on Italy's men's tennis. Yesterday Sinner and Arnaldi, today Lorenzo Musetti and Flavio Cobolli who give themselves the first victory in the main draw of their careers.
Among the Azzurri, Jasmine Paolini did well, while Sara Errani was immediately eliminated.
Two of the main favorites for the final success do not miss the debut: Daniil Medvedev, third seed of the seeding, enters the 2nd round thanks to the withdrawal of the French Terence Atmane (145 ATP) on the score of 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 1-0 in favor of the Russian. Stefanos Tsitsipas also went ahead, with some scares. Last year's finalist overcame Belgian luky loser Zizou Berg (who entered the draw in place of the injured Berrettini) with a score of 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. In the women's draw, easy successes for Coco Gauff against the Czech Schmiedlova and for Svitolina against Preston, while the Wimbledon champion Voundrousova leaves the scene against the Ukrainian Yastremska, coming from the qualifiers. Naomi Osaka, former world number 1, was also immediately knocked out: the Japanese, on her return after the stop for the birth of a child, was eliminated by the French Caroline Garcia, number 19 WTA.
ANSA Australian Open: Osaka comes back and loses, out in the first round - Tennis - Ansa.it Japanese tennis player defeated by No. 19 Garcia (ANSA)
And after the Croatian Dino Prizmic, 18 years and 176 days at the end of the tournament, junior champion at Roland Garros and 178 in the world who, starting from the qualifiers, impressed so much in the first match in a Slam draw by engaging the world number 4 Novak Djokovic for 1 hours; another baby phenomenon is making headlines in Melbourne. He is the youngest of the six teenagers at the start of the first Slam round of the season: he is the Czech Jakub Mensik, 18 years 149 days, also promoted from the qualifiers by 142 ATP, who overcame Denis Shapovalov in his debut still behind after physical problems. In the first Grand Slam draw, baby Jakub won in 3 sets, against a talented and experienced opponent, saving 8 out of 8 break points, scoring 31 winners and imposing himself in 2 hours and 21 minutes.
ANSA Agency Australian Open: Medvedev and Tsitsipas ahead, ok Coco Gauff - Tennis - Ansa.it Svitolina smiles, Wimbledon champion Vondrousova out (ANSA)
So the third time is the good one for Musetti who had never won a match in the draw in Melbourne: the Italian seeded number 25, defeated the French Benjamin Bonzi, n.110 of the ranking, with the score of 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-2. The Tuscan had not won a match in the Happy Slam for 1460 days, when he won the qualifiers against Copil. To find success in a main draw at Melbourne Park, it was necessary to go back as far as January 26, 2019, with the triumph at the Aus Open juniors. Now the French Luca Van Assche (79 in the ranking) awaits him, with whom he will still start as a favorite: between the two there are no precedents.
It was also the first real smile for Cobolli, who won his first career Grand Slam victory at the end of an epic match. The current world number 100, in his second match in a major, overcame Chile's Nicolas Jarry, the number 18 seed, with scores of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in four hours of play. For the 21-year-old from Florence it is also the first success in his career against a Top-20 player: he will face the Russian Pavel Tokov in the 2nd round, with excellent chances of victory.
After the disappointments and difficulties of last season, the one seen in the first days of 2024 looks like a regenerated and much more serene Musetti: "I'm very happy because the first victory has finally arrived - explains the Carrara rider in the press conference - last year it was quite bitter, I lost in the fifth set after recovering from 2 sets to zero.
Today, however, after losing the third, I was very good at recovering the initial break in the fourth. It wasn't easy to play because it was really hot. Honestly I feel good now - he admits - I come from two positive tournaments in which we saw improvements and the fruits of the work done in preparation. In Adelaide I played some great tennis, I only missed the semi-final but I hope to continue like this and bring a more mature Lorenzo... from Dad... even on the field."
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