The Italian Jannik Sinner, 16th in the world, got off to a good start at the Australian Open tennis by eliminating the British Kyle Edmund (580th but formerly 14th) 6-4, 6-0, 6-2.
“I was very solid, even if I had problems finishing,” commented the 21-year-old from South Tyrol who will face Frenchman Grégoire Barrère (83rd) or Argentine Tomas Etcheverry (79th) in the next round. The Italian is highly anticipated in Melbourne after establishing himself as one of the best in 2022, notably reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
BORGES KO, SONEGO ALSO PASSES TO THE SECOND ROUND
After that of Sinner, a convincing debut also for Lorenzo Sonego at the Australian Open, the first Slam of 2023 with a record jackpot (76.5 million Australian dollars), taken on the hard courts of Melbourne Park. The 27-year-old from Turin, n.47 ATP, defeated in the first round 76(4) 63 67(6) 61, in just over three and a quarter hours of play, the Portuguese Nuno Borges, n.111 in the ranking, for the joy of the many Italian fans in the stands on Court 6. Sonego never gave up his serve, saving all four break points allowed, two in the twelfth game of the third set (as many set-points for the opponent) and two in the seventh fourth quarter game. In the second round the Piedmontese – in his sixth participation with the third round of the last edition (defeated by Kecmanovic) as his best result – will find the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, n.11 in the ranking and 10 in the seeding, who however in Melbourne, despite the him favorable, in the four previous participations he has never gone beyond the second round. “Sonny” is ahead 4-2 in the balance of direct confrontations – all rather fought – with the 25-year-old from Wroclaw and has won the last two. However, “Hubi” won the only match played on outdoor hard courts Down Under, played in the first round of Auckland in 2020.
ANSA Agency
Curious episode during the first match won by the Spaniard ((ANSA)
MUSETTI OUT IN THE FIRST ROUND
Lorenzo Musetti’s comeback fades away after he falls on his debut at the Australian Open tennis after a ‘marathon’ match. Against the South African Lloyd Harris, the blue comeback from 0-2 to 2-2, but yields in the fifth set after the super tie-break lost 10-4 with the overall score of 6-4, 6-1, 6-7, 2-6, 7-6.
IMMEDIATELY OUT ELISABETTA COCCIARETTO
Immediately out of the Australia Open tennis Elisabetta Cocciaretto. The only blue of the 6 in the main draw to debut on day 1 lost in two sets 7-5, 6-3 to the Kazakh Elena Rybakina, n.23 in the ranking and 25 in the seeding, the reigning Wimbledon champion. The 21-year-old from Fermo was not too lucky in the draw, she is No. 48 in the WTA, “best ranking” thanks to her first WTA final reached in Hobart.
NADAL GOES ON, DRAPER BEATEN IN 4 SETS
Good first for Rafa Nadal in Melbourne. The Spaniard, seeded No. 1 and defending champion, flies to the 2nd round of the Australian Open after the victory in four sets with the British Jack Draper (50 in the ranking). Rafa suffers, certainly not yet at the best of form and author of too many free games, who with experience and also a pinch of luck (muscle problems of his rival starting from the third set) brings home the match 7-5, 2-6, 6 -4, 6-1 in three hours and 40′. He will challenge the American McDonald in the 2nd round.
ANSA Agency
Australian Nick Kyrgios was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open with a knee injury. (HANDLE)
PEGULA AND GAUFF GO BY
The American Jessica Pegula, number 3 in the world, is the first qualified in the second round of the Australian Open tennis. She beat Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 6-0, 6-1 in 59 minutes. “Everything worked out fine,” she said after the meeting. In the next round she will face Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich or Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova. All easy also for Coco Gauff, number 7 in the world, who extinguished the hopes of the Czech Katerina Siniakova (46th) beating her 6-1, 6-4 and thus qualifying for the second round of the Australian Open. “I’m very happy with myself, I knew she would fight to the end,” commented the 18-year-old American. In the next round she will face the British Emma Raducanu (77th), winner of the US Open 2021.
