The 2023 Australian Open has started, and the first day was interesting enough to let us know that this year’s edition of the Australian Grand Slam would be quite the event. On the first day of the event, we saw some remarkable wins as well as some surprising defeats.
One of the winners on Monday was last year’s champion, Rafael Nadal, who beat Britain’s Jack Draper in a game of four rounds. Draper, who suffered physical exhaustion, won the second set of the game but ultimately lost to Nadal 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. After the match, he commented, “Physically, I’ll be first to say I’m still a work in progress.” Nadal would now progress to the second round as he hopes to defend his title and win a record 23rd Grand Slam title.
Russian Daniil Medvedev was another winner from Monday after a straight-set win over Marcos Giron. Medvedev did not break a sweat before beating the American 6-0, 6-1, 6-2. Last year, Medvedev lost to Nadal in the final of the competition, and this year, he is hoping to win the title.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has scaled to the second round of the competition after beating Quentin Halys 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6). Tsitsipas has not been in form for quite some time now, and his win on Monday was a good start to the competition. He is set to face Rinky Hijikata in the second round.
Other men who advanced to the second round include Cameron Norrie and Jannik Sinner.
2021 US Open Champion, Emma Raducanu started her Australian Open campaign on a high note with a straight-set win over her German opponent Tamara Korpatsch. Raducanu won the match 6-3 6-2 as she returned to the court after an injury scare.
Women’s number one, Iga Swiatek, won 6-4 7-5 on Monday after beating Jule Niemeier. Her next opponent would be Camila Osorio in the next round.
Other women who won on Monday include 18-year-old Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Maria Sakkari.
Leon Osamor
