The first results of the day at the Australian Tennis Open are favorable to the French, but include a surprise.
On the occasion of the first of the four Grand Slam tournaments of the year (the others being Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open), Alizé Cornet was eliminated by the Canadian Leylah Fernandez 7-5, 6-2.
It's her first defeat in the first round in this tournament since 2012. Weakened by health concerns, the 33-year-old player made the following observation: "I held a set... In addition, at 40°C , it was a bit predictable.
If I had won the first set, on a misunderstanding I might have been able to get away with it”.
This tricolor disappointment is offset by the qualification for the second round of Caroline Garcia.
She defeated another Canadian, Katherine Sebov, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.
She will meet Leylah Fernandez in the next round.
The Franco-French duel against Cornet will therefore not take place.
In addition, another Frenchwoman, Diane Parry, easily beat the American Taylor Townsend.
She needed just 57 minutes to win 6-1, 6-1.
Matches halted due to heat
In the men's draw, the tournament started well for Benjamin Bonzi, 48 in the standings.
He eliminates the Italian Mattia Bellucci, ranked a hundred places behind him.
But he left a set on the way: 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7), 6-4.
The good surprise came from Jérémy Chardy.
He, who had not played in an official tournament since his defeat in the first round of the US Open 2021, defeated Colombian Daniel Galan, 70th in the world, in four sets 1-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4.
Former 25th in the world, the Frenchman is now unranked.
In addition, matches on uncovered courts were suspended for three hours due to Melbourne's 'heat wave' rule.
Only matches on the Rod Laver, Margaret Court and John Cain courts continued, with the roof closed.
Temperatures and humidity can reach levels making the game very difficult, even dangerous, during the Australian Open, in the middle of the austral summer.
