Gasquet, the unexpected of the blue corner
In a 100% French clash never easy to master, Richard Gasquet (35) upheld the birthright and let his variety of shots do the talking to win 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3 against Ugo Gaston (seeded n°29). A winning comeback for Gasquet who is making his comeback in Melbourne this year. He hadn't played at the Australian Open since 2018. Hugo Gaston lost 7-6(4), 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 to Australian Christopher O' Connell (173rd worldwide, guest). Like Caroline Garcia, out 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 by the American Hailey Baptiste (20 years old; 168th in the world, from qualifying). The Lyonnaise will turn to the double, with Kristina Mladenovic. Alizé Cornet dominated 6-3, 6-3 the Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova (119th in the world,from qualifying) to enter his 60th consecutive Grand Slam tournament. The Niçoise, who is now only two units from the record of the Japanese Ai Sugiyama, will meet in the second round the Spaniard Garbine Muguruza (n°3) who dismissed Clara Burel 6-3, 6-4. Océane Dodin led 6-2, 5-3, obtained 3 match points, before being eliminated 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 by the Romanian Irina Camelia-Begu.
To discover
Australian Open: men's schedule and results
Australian Open: ladies schedule and results
The walks
Seeded n°5, Rublev easily eliminated 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 the Italian Gianluca Mager (63rd in the world).
Quarter-finalist in Melbourne last year, the Russian (21), winner of the Davis Cup in December, was impressive (13 aces and 31 winning shots).
After being broken from the start, Daniil Medvedev who then had no break point to erase dominated 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (3) the Swiss Henri Laaksonen (92nd in the world).
The surprise
The Australian Maddison Inglis (139th in the world) eliminated the Canadian Leylah Fernandez (seeded n°23), unfortunate finalist of the last US Open. Inglis (24) records her first Grand Slam victory and the first victory of her career against a Top 50 player.
The perf'
The Romanian Sorana Cirstea (38th in the world) was played 6-2, 6-2 by the Czech Petra Kvitova (seeded n ° 20), finalist of the Australian Open in 2019. The year last, Cirstea had already dominated the finalist Kvitova at the Australian Open, in the 2nd round (in 3 sets). Cirstea's 38th victory in the Top 20 supports its return to the fore. The 31-year-old Romanian has moved up almost 50 places in the standings since the end of 2020 and won her first title in 13 years in Istanbul last season. “
Sorana loves my game. She jumps in and feels comfortable. She appreciates my rhythm. It's more difficult for her when she faces defensive players
,” summed up the Czech.
The number:
11
Surprised and led 3-1 in the 1st set by the Briton Harriet Dart (125th in the world, from qualifying), Iga Swiatek (n°7) serenely regained her balance by taking the lead in the exchanges by gradually extinguishing the success of its rival.
The Pole pocketed the following 11 games (3 unforced errors only in the 2nd set) to win 6-3, 6-0.
The favorite
Samantha Stosur.
The Australian (37; winner of the US Open in 2011) is playing the last Grand Slam of her career in singles.
Invited, she dismissed 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 the American Robin Anderson (172nd in the world, also invited).
The tears she announced will be for later.
Stosur, a single winning match in 2020, as in 2021, remains in the running.
The fear
Diego Schwartzman had a match point at 5-3 in the 3rd set against the Serbian Filip Krajinovic before being physically reduced.
Deprived of spring, visibly suffering from the right thigh, the Argentinian lost his service, called on the trainer, before managing to get out of it 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
The info
Nick Kyrgios (114th in the world), the whimsical Australian, in an interview with
The Age
indicated that he will not take part in the clay court season.
"
At this point in my career, I'm not going to struggle with 30-shot rallies against Diego Schwartzman.
The Australian faces Briton Liam Broady (127th in the world, from qualifying), this Tuesday, from 9 a.m., on the John Cain Arena.
The sentence:
"
Djokovic is not a model for young players
".
Signée Palmieri, the director of the Rome tournament, interviewed by Radio Anch'io Sport, in comments reported by Rai, said about the Djokovic affair: "
Novak Djokovic is a controversial figure who takes positions and puts himself in danger. The fact that he is not an example for young people who approach this sport is absolutely true, he has not reached Federer and Nadal in this area. I have a long-standing relationship with Novak. He has a very strong personality, I would have advised him not to look at the immediate but at his future. He will also overcome this obstacle. His participation in the Rome tournament (May 8-15) depends on him, if he registers, we will respect the rules. If the player arrives in order, we will have no problem and no reason not to accept him.
»
Package
That of Casper Ruud (seeded n°8): “
I tried everything I could to be ready, but unfortunately I'm not 100% ready.
I couldn't play 100% as I should...
", regretted the Norwegian who sprained his ankle two days ago.
He was replaced in the draw by Russian Roman Safiullin who will play against Slovakian Alex Molcan.
To be continued:
Tsitsipas and Raducanu
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Emma Raducanu will enter the tournament on Tuesday.
To be continued (from 9 a.m.).
Rod Laver Arena: Storm Sanders (Aus)-Aryna Sabalenka (Bel, 2);
Mikael Ymer (Sue)-Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gre, 4).
Margareth Court Arena: Lorenzo Musetti (Ita)-Alex de Minaur (Aus, 32);
Sloane Stephens (US)-Emma Raducanu (GB, 17).
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