And with that, today’s tennis is over and I am going with it. Bye!
Gavrilova is asked if she made that a bit hard for herself:
I did, I did didn’t I. It was a bit close for my liking but I fought my way out of it. The crowd didn’t want a third set, so. It was pretty awesome. I was surprised by this atmosphere, to be honest. I didn’t know what to expect and I’m very happy. I didn’t think so many people would come. Thanks.
Daria Gavrilova is through to round two!
Second set: Sorribes Tormo* 1-6, 5-6 Gavrilova A poor forehand from Gavrilova goes long, and then a magnificent forehand from Gavrilova, an absolutely vicious and completely unreturnable screamer, makes it 15-15. After an unforced error from Sorribes Tormo, Gavrilova tempts her opponent to the net and then smashes another forehand past her to set up two match points and she only needs one, powering a couple of straight backhands to blast the Spaniard off the court.
Updated
Second set: Sorribes Tormo 1-6, 5-6 Gavrilova* Sorribes Tormo swiftly works her way to a couple of break points, thanks to two unforced errors and a double fault, Gavrilova’s self-implosion continuing. But then Gavrilova saves them both, wins the next point with an absurdly risky forehand that just kisses the far edge of the line, and then smashes away another forehand to win the game!
Second set: Sorribes Tormo* 1-6, 5-5 Gavrilova Gavrilova’s generosity continues: four unforced errors, plus one point she should have actively won only to produce another poor volley and get away with it thanks to a poor shot from her opponent. It’s back to 5-5, and this match will be won or lost in Gavrilova’s head.
Second set: Sorribes Tormo 1-6, 4-5 Gavrilova* What a strange thing the human mind is. Gavrilova starts the game poorly, given three opportunities to win the point at the net she insists on repeatedly hitting the ball straight to her opponent, who eventually put it away. And though she wins the next point, three unforced errors follow and it’s back on serve.
Updated
Second set: Sorribes Tormo* 1-6, 3-4 Gavrilova Gavrilova bludgeons a forehand return crosscourt to make it 0-30, hammers a forehand return down the line to make it 0-40, and smashes two more forehands to finish the game. That was merciless returning, though perhaps Sorribes Tormo might have stopped serving to her forehand at some point. Anyway, the Australian is about to serve for the match.
Updated
Second set: Sorribes Tormo 1-6, 3-4 Gavrilova* Two holds now, but Gavrilova is all action and fist-pumps as she holds to love. Being broken has clearly dented her pride and she’s now fully remotivated and two games from victory.
Second set: Sorribes Tormo 1-6, 2-3 Gavrilova* Gavrilova gives the break right back again, wrapped and tied in a bow, broken to 15 and again with a double fault on break point.
Second set: Sorribes Tormo* 1-6, 1-3 Gavrilova Gavrilova takes control of the second set by winning a gruelling game full of long, well-contested points but which ended, limply, with a double fault.
We’ve got a report here on Ash Barty’s storming success a little earlier:
And one here on Johanna Konta’s withdrawal through injury, the most horrible waste of a lot of time, travel and quarantine-based boredom:
First set: Sorribes Tormo 1-6 Gavrilova* Another break! Gavrilova powers another forehand winner past Sorribes Tormo, pockets the first set, and is looking every inch the nightmare first-round draw for the poor Spaniard. Sadly whoever wins this has the nightmare second-round draw, with Ash Barty lying in wait.
First set: Sorribes Tormo 1-5 Gavrilova* This is not as easy as the scoreline makes it look. Gavrilova is being forced to scrap for everything she’s getting, particularly on her own serve (she has had to serve 26 times, and the Spaniard only 16), and her last service game featured three deuces. But look at the winners count: she’s up 15-2, and Sorribes Tormo just can’t finish points.
Updated
Tomorrow’s order of play is out, and the action on the main show courts looks like this:
Rod Laver Arena
8-Bianca Andreescu (Canada) v Hsieh Su-Wei (Taiwan)
Nina Stojanovic (Serbia) v 10-Serena Williams (U.S.)
1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v Frances Tiafoe (U.S.)
Evening session, not before 8am GMT/7pm local
Caroline Garcia (France) v 3-Naomi Osaka (Japan)
Maxime Cressy (U.S.) v 6-Alexander Zverev (Germany)
Margaret Court Arena
7-Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) v Daria Kasatkina (Russia)
Sorana Cirstea (Romania) v 9-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic)
3-Dominic Thiem (Austria) v Dominik Koepfer (Germany)
Evening session, not before 8am GMT/7pm local
Alja Tomljanovic (Australia) v 2-Simona Halep (Romania)
18-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) v Alex Bolt (Australia)
John Cain Arena
17-Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) v Marton Fucsovics (Hungary)
Venus Williams (U.S.) v Sara Errani (Italy)
15-Iga Swiatek (Poland) v Camila Giorgi (Italy)
Evening session, not before 8am GMT/7pm local
Nick Kyrgios (Australia) v 29-Ugo Humbert (France)
And then there was one. Sara Sorribes Tormo against Daria Gavrilova is the last match of the night/morning/whatever, and it has only just begun: Gavrilova broke in the first game, and is thus 2-0 up.
Tsitsipas has a hilarious post-match interview. He’s asked if he expected to be so dominant:
I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting it to come so easy [there is a gasp from the crowd when he says this, as if he has been horrifically rude to the beaten Frenchman]. It was a great match from my side. Let’s be honest [crowd still muttering] ... oh my God, I feel I messed it up already. I think I played a spectacular match from the beginning to the end [laughs].
Now Tsitsipas is speaking in his second language, and clearly intended no harm here. The interviewer, Jim Courier, realises this and asks an easy second question about the match against Simon:
I don’t know what his tactics was [laughs from the crowd now, as if that was another massive burn from Tsitsipas]. I can just leave if you want me to. This was the last thing I was expecting, Rod Laver Arena, everyone laughing at me.
Was he surprised, then, at how well he himself had played:
I was surprised. I don’t want to add too much. My level is good so far. I fell good with my service games, I’m returning really well so I think I get the upper hand from the beginning of a rally which gives me a lot of confidence.
Finally, he’s asked about Thanasi Kokkinakis, his next opponent, and a likely split in the allegiance of the local Greek community:
This is going to be ... I don’t know. I’ve known him for a long time, we’ve practised a lot of times, he’s a really nice guy but that won’t really matter on the court [more jeers]. I saw his match before, it seems like he’s in good shape. His game is there. Obviously I’ll take him seriously, every match in a Grand Slam is really important. Every match I try to put the best version of myself, the best Stefanos, out on the court.
Stefanos Tsitsipas storms into the second round!
Third set: Tsitsipas 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 Simon* Simon has not had a fun evening. His game has simply not held up to the scrutiny that Tsitsipas has put it under, and serving to stay in the match he hits a forehand long, nets a volley, sends and a backhand just a fraction long, confirmed on review, and then limply nets a forehand. His shoulders slump: in the end he made life easy for his opponent, but Tsitsipas was too strong, too fast, too consistent and in the end too good. Next up for him is the Australian wild card Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Updated
Next and indeed last up on Margaret Court is the Russia-born Australian wild card Daria Gavrilova against the Spanish world No64 Sara Sorribes Tormo. Gavrilova, who has dropped to a world ranking of 387 after a massively injury-affected couple of years, has twice reached the fourth round here, and reached the world top 20 back in 2017. When they played at the 2018 US Open, their only previous meeting, Gavrilova, then seeded No25, won 6-0, 6-0.
Berrettini is a pleasingly entertaining post-match interviewee, though this doesn’t really come across in print. He’s asked how he managed to see, let alone return, Anderson’s serve:
I don’t think I saw it a lot. I don’t know how many aces he did, but it was really tough. But I knew before that he’s a great player, a great server, so I was ready. Luckily I was also able to serve well.
And he’s asked if he knows anything about Tomas Machac, his next opponent:
Not really, actually. Sorry. I think we are going to study tomorrow with my coach, how this guy plays. I saw he lost the first set today. I’m really happy for my performance tonight so I’m going to enjoy a little bit now and then tomorrow think about my next match.
Third set: Anderson 6-7, 5-7, 3-6 Berrettini* A down-the-line backhand pass wraps up victory for the Italian No9 seed, and in relatively short order too, given the knife-edge first set in which he had to save eight set points. Two hours and 23 minutes on the clock, and Berrettini will play the Czech qualifier Tomas Machac in round two.
Updated
Third set: Anderson* 6-7, 5-7, 3-5 Berrettini A break of serve in the third! Anderson made a few unforced errors at key moments in that game, including a double fault and a particularly glaring forehand dumped long at what turned out to be the final deuce, and he’s surely on his way out.
Olga Danilovic has wrapped up victory over Petra Martic, the No16 seed, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. The Serbian world No183 had never won a match in the main draw of a Grand Slam, or for that matter played at all in the main draw of a Grand Slam, but this won’t be the last we hear of the Serbian, who turned 20 just a couple of weeks ago.
Third set: Tsitsipas 6-1, 6-2, 1-0 Simon* The fifth seed breaks at the first time of asking in set three, and the writing is very much on the wall now for Simon, and in very large capital letters at that.
Second set: Tsitsipas* 6-1, 6-2 Simon Tsitsipas is absolutely purring tonight. He’s coming to the net quite a lot - 10 times in the first set, eight in the second - and so far it’s earning him a lot of easy points. His first serve percentage hasn’t been great, dipping to 57% in the second set, but his superiority in open play is more than enough to make up for it.
Olga Danilovic, a qualifier, is playing the 16th seed Petra Martic on Court 17 and the final set is swinging this way and that like a hypercharged Newton’s cradle. In order, after a few holds to start proceedings, Martic broke, then Danilovic broke, then Danilovic held, and then broke again, and then Martic broke, and it’s thus 4-4, and Martic’s turn to serve.
Second set: Tsitsipas 6-3, 4-1 Simon* Simon saves one break point with an absolutely fabulous double-handed backhand across court, which lands right in the corner and Tsitsipas can’t get back into play, but then loses the second with another backhand which lands a couple of millimetres wide. He’s a double break down in the second and in a whole heap of trouble.
There has finally been a break of serve on Margaret Court Arena, and it has gone to Matteo Merrettini, who thus leads Kevin Anderson 7-6, 7-5. The curious thing is that after 23 successive holds Anderson was broken to love.
Jo Konta retires from the Australian Open!
Second set: Juvan 4-6, 2-0 Konta* Konta loses the first two games of the second set without winning a point and decides that continuing is doing more harm than good. The British No13 seed is out of the tournament!
Updated
First set: Tsitsipas* 6-1 Simon Tsitsipas is looking very sharp here. Simon is not being disgraced, but perhaps unsurprisingly he looks very much like a 33-year-old up against a rising star . He’s only winning 50% of points on his first serve and 33% on his second, and Tsitsipas has only needed two break points.
First set: Konta* 6-4 Juvan The Briton wins the first set, but the games have lengthened considerably since the injury break, and in the last of them Konta had to deal with a break point for the first time. The physio is back on in the changeover, but Konta continues.
Meanwhile on Margaret Court the match between the 6ft 8in South African Kevin Anderson and the 6ft 5in Italian No9 seed Matteo Berrettini is proceeding very much as might have been imagined: no breaks of serve, 22 aces (Anderson 13-9 up here), but Berrettini just a fraction better in the crucial moments and thus leading 7-6, 4-4.
Konta has returned to Court 15 and looks ready to play. The injury was apparently sustained, or at least exacerbated, when going for a smash, but in the first couple of points since coming back she seems to be moving freely.
Serving for the first set vs Kaja Juvan, Johanna Konta misses a smash at 5-4, 15-0, goes to her chair and calls the trainer.
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) February 9, 2021
They've headed off court for an MTO. 'I need to get this taken care of, otherwise I can't play,' Konta said. pic.twitter.com/ROffXWHv2Y
First set: Juvan 4-5 Konta* Jo Konta is a break up against Kaja Juvan, but has taken a medical time out, left the court and hasn’t been seen for some time.
Fourth set: Evans 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 5-7 Norrie* It’s all over! The British No30 seed is dumped out in the first round, but the British world No69 marches on! It’s the first time Cameron Norrie has got past round one in Melbourne, and he did it by reeling off four games in a row to turn 3-5 in the fourth and the imminent prospect of a fifth into 7-5 and an early night.
First set: Tsitsipas 2-0 Simon* The fans on Rod Laver must be wondering if they’re destined to watch a two-match quintuple-bagel, as the fifth seed breaks at the first attempt and looks in very fine nick.
Second set: Jones 4-6, 1-6 Rogers* The adventure it is over for Fran Jones, who after a good first set was taken apart in the second, winning only eight points. There were no double faults and only four unforced errors (compared with four and 15 in the first set): she didn’t give anything away, she was just well beaten.
You would have thought that Gilles Simon has been around long enough to have played most people a few times, but this is the first time he has come up against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek, in the brightest of yellow shirts and matching headband, is serving first.
Fourth set: Evans* 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 5-4 Norrie Evans serves for the fourth set and fluffs it, serving a double fault to lose the second break point, and it’s back on serve in set four.
Second set: Jones* 4-6, 0-4 Rogers Things have gone rapidly downhill for Fran Jones, who from 4-4 in the first set has lost six games on the spin and is now in a full-on spiral of doom against the American world No57, Shelby Rogers.
Ash Barty is pleased:
This is what it’s all about, this is incredible. To play in front of you guys is an honour and privilege, and we’re just extremely grateful to be here. I try to come out here and stick to my processes and just enjoy it. I missed tennis every single day. The competitor in me missed what this is all about, missed the last hour before you come out on court. The bonus particularly for us players in the next few weeks is we’ve got crowds, we’ve got people to enjoy it with us and that’s really, really special.
Ash Barty screams through in 44 minutes!
Second set: Barty 6-0, 6-0 Kovinic* It’s all over! Barty won 12 games; Kovinic won 10 points. The Montenegrin double faults to concede a match point, and then another unforced error, her 28th, seals it.
Updated
Second set: Barty 6-0, 4-0 Kovinic* Barty breaks to love. The match is 38 minutes old, and there isn’t much of it to go. By way of contrast, the all-qualifier men’s match on Court 13, in which Viktor Troicki leads Michael Mmoh 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 5-4 (on serve in the fifth) is about to enter its fifth hour.
Second set: Barty 6-0, 2-0 Kovinic* For the first time Kovinic gets to deuce. She even has a game point, set up with an ace, but she can’t take it, promptly sets up a game point for Barty with a double fault, and that one is converted.
Fourth set: Evans 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 2-0 Norrie* Dan Evans breaks to 15 early in the fourth set, winning all three points when Cameron Norrie landed his first serve, and this see-saw encounter takes another see. Or saw.
Updated
First set: Barty 6-0 Kovinic* Kovinic settled after winning that first point, and went on to win, well, a few more (a total of four in the set, which from where she was at 0-4 is decent) and hit with a bit more confidence. But finally she nets a sliced backhand, and after 18 minutes Ash Barty is a set up.
Updated
First set: Barty* 4-0, 0-15 Kovinic Kovinic wins a point! Or more accurately Barty loses one, hitting a backhand a foot long just as all the statisticians were looking up when a player last won a set without losing a point.
First set: Barty 4-0 Kovinic* Four games in now, and Barty still hasn’t dropped a point. A lot of this is down to Kovinic, who is making loads of unforced errors - eight of them now.
First set: Barty 2-0 Kovinic* (* denotes the player who most recently served) Barty doesn’t look inclined to mess around. Two games in, and Kovinic hasn’t won a point.
Updated
Hello world! Simon Burnton here, strapping myself in for the next few hours. Beyond the matches already ongoing, this is what we’ve still got to look forward to before the day’s out:
Rod Laver Arena
Ashleigh Barty (Aus, 1) v Danka Kovinic (Mne)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gre, 5) v Gilles Simon (Fra)
Margaret Court Arena
Kevin Anderson (Rsa) v Matteo Berrettini (Ita, 9)
Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spa) v Daria Gavrilova (Aus)
Court 17
Olga Danilovic (Ser) v Petra Martic (Cro, 16)
There’s also lots of British interest: next up on Court 13 is the 13th seed, Jo Konta - potentially in just a few minutes, depending on the outcome of the fourth-set tie-break between Michael Mmoh and Viktor Troicki - against the Slovenian Kaja Juvan; the qualifier Fran Jones is about to start on Court 10 against Shelby Rogers of America; and already under way on Court 10 is the all-British match between Dan Evans and Cameron Norrie, where Norrie currently leads 6-4, 4-6, 3-2 with a break in the third.
First set: Destanee Aiava* 3-3 Samantha Stosur (* denotes server) What an odd match this is. This game has gone to deuce and they are trading break points like proverbial Pokemon cards before, finally, Stosur clinches the game. Unsurprisingly, the first-serve win stats are hovering below the 40% mark and receiving points won is about 60% for both.
Much as I would love to continue here, Simon has arrived and is going to take you forth into a bright starry night full of, well, stars. Cheerio.
First set: Destanee Aiava 3-3 Samantha Stosur* (* denotes server) Back on John Cain Arena, neither Aussie wants to hold a service game it seems. The opening five games have been breaks. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. But Stosur has three to Aiava’s two so the pressure is on here. I spoke too soon, for its 0-30 already but wait, Stosur has taken a point and now they’re both at the net trading volleys and Stosur comes off the better. Aiava is patient. After a Stosur unforced error, she runs her much more experienced opponent back and forth across the baseline before planting a winner down the line. Make that six breaks from six games!
For those of you in the UK, a battle of the Brits is under way as Dan Evans levels proceedings against ATP Cup and Davis Cup teammate Cameron Norrie. Norrie took the first set 6-4 but Evans has just won the second 6-4.
At set point, Norrie approaches the net but he can’t pick a volley from close range and we’re off to a third stanza.
Not to sound ominous, but the winner could find himself on course for a third-round clash with Rafa Nadal.
Meanwhile, sixth seed Karolina Pliskova has made light work of Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-0, 6-2. But fortunes were not so bright for Pliskova’s twin sister, Kristyna, who lost to Brit Heather Watson 6-7, 6-7.
Updated
Good evening to you, and good morning to those of you waking up overseas. I’ll hold fort until Simon Burnton takes over for the night session.
And what better time, for Samantha Stosur is warming up for the first match of her 19th Australian Open campaign. The 36-year-old is facing fellow Australian Destanee Aiava, who is only 20 and ranked 203rd, in an attempt to progress past the fourth round for the first time. Aiava has three Australian Opens under her belth but is yet to win a match in the main draw She’s ranked 203rd in the world and faces a very experienced Stosur today.
Third set: Tennys Sandgren 5-7, 1-6, 1-6 Alex De Minaur* (* denotes server) Sandgren is unhappy with something - not quite sure what - but he seems to think it only happens on his serve. He lets the umpire know, but it’s too late for the American. There’s one final indignity for him as De Minaur smashes the ball into his body at the net on match point. Good on Sandgren, there’s no histrionics. He just taps rackets and he’s out of there. De Minaur moves through with ease, on what has been a decent day for the Australian contingent. And Ash Barty is still to come.
And with that I’ll hand you over to my colleague Emma Kemp, who will guide you through the remainder of the day session.
Updated
Third set: Tennys Sandgren 5-7, 1-6, 1-5 Alex De Minaur* (* denotes server) De Minaur aces, his fourth of match, to hold and move to within a game of the second round. The first set went for 55 minutes, the rest of the match so far around 50 minutes. That tells a stark story of how this has gone for Sandgren.
Third set: Tennys Sandgren* 5-7, 1-6, 1-4 Alex De Minaur (* denotes server) De Minaur is charging towards victory as Sandgren implodes this third set. The Australian breaks again and that first set tiebreaker seems a distant memory at this point.
Time to go around the grounds again, starting with the Australian contingent. On John Cain Arena, local hope Alex De Minaur, the 21st seed, has just taken the second set against Tennys Sandgren. The promising youngster leads 7-6, 6-1 and they head into the third.
De Minaur’s compatriot Alexei Popyrin saved four match points on his way to a big shock - a 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-3 win over No 13 seed David Goffin in three hours and 43 minutes.
But local wildcard Astra Sharma bowed out as Nao Hibino went on to win 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in one hour and 57 minutes.
Here’s Rafa: “It’s been a tough 15 days for me because I had some issue with the back. I just had to focus today and get through. I did a good job today. Straight sets, that’s what I needed.”
“Let’s go day by day. It wasn’t ideal preparation but I’m still alive. I’m happy to be paying in Australia one more time and happy to stay here as long as possible.
“Every player needs the crowd. But it’s time to be responsible too. It’s time to take care of each other. Tennis is an important part of our lives but we are facing much more important things than that.”
Rafael Nadal beats Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-4, 6-1
Third set: Laslo Djere 3-6, 4-6, 1-6 Rafael Nadal* (* denotes server) Serving to stay in the match, Djere serves up a double fault to kick off with. The Serb’s radar then goes awry and Nadal is gifted three match points… a second double fault seals the deal and Nadal moves through without too much fuss!
Third set: Laslo Djere 3-6, 4-6, 1-5 Rafael Nadal* (* denotes server) Nadal’s forehand, twice, brings “ahs” from the crowd. Sensational shot-making there. Djere does his best to stay in it, and delivers two high quality winners of his own to bring up a break point, but yet another tremendous forehand winner - stretching out left and hit with incredible power - brings up deuce for Nadal. Djere can only smile in admiration. Nadal holds and has one-and-a-half feet in the second round.
Third set: Laslo Djere* 3-6, 4-6, 1-4 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Nadal’s running away with this one now. He holds comfortably before breaking again to move to a double break up. The writing’s on the wall for Djere here.
Third set: Laslo Djere* 3-6, 4-6, 1-2 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Nadal swiftly consolidates that break, before Djere gets on the board for the first time this set.
Third set: Laslo Djere* 3-6, 4-6, 0-1 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Djere gives a few signs during the opening game of the third set that he can’t match the intensity he gave at the end of the second. His level drops slightly and Nadal takes full advantage. Break.
Second set: Laslo Djere 3-6, 4-6* Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Nadal takes the second set! But not before a few speed bumps have to be navigated - three to be precise, in the form of break points. Nadal drops to 15-40 but Djere can only return into the net on the first one, and then on the second his ball clips the top of the net and lands out. Nadal wavers again and finds the net to bring up a third chance for Djere, but this time a booming serve slams shut that particular window of opportunity. An ace follows, and that’s all Djere is going to get this set.
That two sets to love lead fist pump 💪@RafaelNadal closes out the second set 6-4 against Laslo Djere.#AO2021 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/gSMhNE7EWC
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 9, 2021
Updated
Second set: Laslo Djere* 3-6, 4-5 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Djere lives to fight another day on Rod Laver as the Serb holds. But Nadal will serve for a two-set lead now.
Over on Margaret Court Arena, Daniil Medvedev has wrapped up victory and eased into the second round with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 win over Vasek Pospisil.
Second set: Laslo Djere* 3-6, 3-4 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Wow, Djere runs around a forehand and delivers a stunning winner to save break point. Nadal gets second bite of the cherry soon after but again the Serb saves it. And when Nadal bounces a backhand the wrong side of the line, Djere is able to secure the service game and hang in there this set.
Second set: Laslo Djere 3-6, 2-4 Rafael Nadal* (* denotes server) Nadal’s not as comfortable on this service game, Nadal, but he remains on course as he opens up that crucial two-game advantage again.
Meanwhile, president of the Collingwood Football Club, Eddie McGuire, has resigned following a report that found the club to have developed a systemic culture of racism.
Second set: Laslo Djere* 3-6, 2-3 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Nadal holds again, before Djere answers in kind in a quickfire couple of games.
On the topic of this being like no other Open we’ve seen before, and a feeling of malaise surrounding it, perhaps it’s inevitable that the lack of atmosphere at Melbourne Park due to Covid restrictions filters through in some way to the watching public.
Second set: Laslo Djere* 3-6, 1-2 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Here we go again. Nothing spectacular from Nadal this game but he does enough to break for the first time this second set. You’d probably expect Nadal to fizz away now.
“G’day Mike.” Hi Neil Titterington. “I love the summer of tennis. There is something about the way that it dictates the waking hours during the arc of the late summer that is uniquely Australian. It is also a uniquely exciting part of the sporting calendar. However, this year, with a global pandemic in full swing, privileged players complaining about hotel quarantine and the lack of a build-up to the Open, the whole thing feels a bit ‘meh’. I’m trying but I’m just not feeling it man!”
Second set: Laslo Djere 3-6, 1-1 Rafael Nadal* (* denotes server) Nadal responds with a no-nonsense service game, which he closes out to love. Nothing much else to add to that.
Over on Margaret Court, Daniil Medvedev is cruising against Vasek Pospisil – the Russian has secured the second set and leads 6-2, 6-2, 2-2.
Updated
Second set: Laslo Djere* 3-6, 1-0 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Excellent from Djere! In the face of adversity, and in the knowledge that if he is broken early this set his task becomes very, very difficult, he manages to hold.
First set: Laslo Djere 3-6 Rafael Nadal* (* denotes server) Djere goes 30-0 up on Nadal’s serve and all of a sudden it looks like he’s in with a chance of getting back into this set. But the Serb misses his opportunity, and allows Nadal back into it and there’s no looking back for the second seed from there. A shame for Djere, but he’s shown enough to give encouragement for the second set.
First set: Laslo Djere* 3-5 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Djere seems to have taken confidence from that break of serve, rightly so. He continues his new-found form into his service game, which he wins to 15. Amazing stuff. He’s found his groove.
First set: Laslo Djere 2-5 Rafael Nadal* (* denotes server) Aha! What’s this then? Djere springs a surprise on Nadal and manages to break back immediately. Is there life in this set yet?
Updated
First set: Laslo Djere* 1-5 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Oof! Nadal is flying here! A glorious forehand return down the line off a Djere serve seals another game - and another break for the Spaniard.
Updated
First set: Laslo Djere 1-4 Rafael Nadal* (* denotes server) Another comfortable service game goes by for Nadal, who is not wasting any time in this first set.
Over on Margaret Court Arena, Daniil Medvedev, the fourth seed, is also looking comfortable. The Russian is a set and 3-1 up against Vasek Pospisil.
First set: Laslo Djere* 1-3 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Djere makes an unforced error early in this game and he needs to be careful about those today - he simply cannot afford to gift Nadal anything. The Serb then makes another slip, literally, as his racket slips out of his hand mid-serves - it’s thrown down onto the court and he’ll have to replace it. Still, he regains his composure and gets on the scoreboard for the first time.
First set: Laslo Djere 0-3 Rafael Nadal* (* denotes server) Things are going entirely to plan for Nadal so far. He errs just once this game as he’s forced to pick up a deep ball and his forehand return goes wide. Otherwise, it’s text book Nadal, and without breaking a sweat, he’s three games to the good.
First set: Laslo Djere* 0-2 Rafael Nadal (* denotes server) Nadal fully opens up that whipped left-handed forehand for the first time to give Djere a taste of what he’s up against today. And it doesn’t get any better for the Serb as the 20-time grand slam winner goes on to register a first break of the day.
First set: Laslo Djere 0-1 Rafael Nadal* (* denotes server) Nadal springs about the baseline with typical energy as he receives his first balls of the 2021 Australian Open. And there is no sign of discomfort in his back as the second seed holds easily enough on his opening service game.
The toss. Djere won it and elected to receive first. Rafa has the ball in his hand, and we’re ready to go.
So to Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard has not won the title at Melbourne Park since 2009 but is gunning to break that streak this year and at the same time move clear of Roger Federer in the all-time grand slam winners list with a 21st title.
But there’s a problem – the world No 2 has a back injury that he has been suffering from for the past fortnight and that forced him out of last week’s ATP Cup. So not only is his on-court movement restricted, he is also lacking match practice.
Will that play a part today against world No 56 Laslo Djere? You’d think even a not-fully fit Nadal would be too good for the Serb, who has a career high ranking of 27 (in June 2019) and has never won a main draw match at the Australian Open. It’ll certainly be interesting to see how Nadal’s body handles the rigours of grand slam tennis.
Nadal and Djere are out on court, but let’s quickly catch up on today’s major events so far.
We’re two matches in on Rod Laver Arena; both were over in two sets, but the results for Sofia Kenin and Elina Svitolina barely tell the tale of the tape. The record books will show defending champion Kenin beat Australian wildcard Maddison Inglis in straight sets, but it wasn’t a walk in the park for this year’s fourth seed. Inglis broke twice and had a 3-1 lead early on before pushing Kenin all the way in the American’s 7-5, 6-4 win.
“Obviously she’s playing the defending champion, so of course she’s more loose,” Kenin said afterwards. “I obviously am tight. I wasn’t there 100% mentally. But a win is a win and I’ll take it.”
.@SofiaKenin was feeling all the emotions as she stepped foot on Rod Laver Arena for the first time since she won the #AusOpen last year ❤️🏆#AO2021 pic.twitter.com/GttutyagGN
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 9, 2021
Likewise it was far from straight forward for fifth seed Svitolina, who eventually wrapped up victory over Marie Bouzková 6-3, 7-6, but had to dig very deep in what was a thorough examination of her credentials.
Twice former champion Victoria Azarenka was bounced out as the inexperienced Jessica Pegula came from behind to win after the Belarusian led 5-2 in the first set. Azarenka, who appeared to have trouble breathing, had to take a medical timeout in the second before eventually losing 7-5, 6-4.
Paula Badosa, who contracted Covid-19 in the lead-up to the tournament, also bowed out, losing 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-5 to Russian qualifier Liudmila Samsonova.
Elsewhere, the former world No 1 Garbiñe Muguruza eased into the second round with a 6-4 6-0 win over Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan while Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic needed three sets to see off Lauren Davis of the US.
“I feel it’s an issue of maturity,” Muguruza said. “Tennis players never relax, no matter which round, which tournament. I feel like now I approach it differently. I accept the fact that it can go wrong. I’m more open to adaptation, to uncertainty.”
Weather update: As mentioned, it’s glorious in Melbourne today, the sun is out and a high of 24C is expected. I’d say that’s pretty much perfect conditions for playing tennis. Things are going to heat up markedly on Wednesday and Thursday when the mercury will hot the early 30s.
Preamble
After a somewhat muted opening to this year’s Australian Open under grey skies at Melbourne Park, today’s play is well under way in different conditions. The sun is out, and things are heating up nicely with a busy schedule of play still to get through.
Highlighting what’s left of the day session is Rafa Nadal, who gets his campaign to win a record 21st grand slam title up and running on Rod Laver Arena against Serbian Laslo Djere. Injury concerns over the Spaniard have made his opener just that bit more intriguing. More on that shortly.
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, seeded fourth and in terrific form, faces the big-serving Canadian, Vasek Pospisil, on Margaret Court Arena while home hope Alex De Minaur is still to play Tennys Sandgren on John Cain Arena, not before 4pm local time.
This evening, it’s the turn of Ash Barty to kick off her title tilt. The crowd favourite faces Danka Kovinić amid hopes she can become the first Australian to win an Open singles title on home soil since Chris O’Neil in 1978. In the men’s draw, fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas meets French old-timer Gilles Simon. Plus lots, lots more.
So let’s get into it. Feel free to get in touch on email (mike.hytner@theguardian.com) or Twitter (@mike_hytner). Ready? Play.
