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Australian Open: Nadal and Osaka impress

By SudOuest.fr with AFP

Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka burst into the Australian Open on Monday, where their first performance was expected after several months of absence from the circuit

The Spaniard and the Japanese had shown their good form during the preparation tournaments for the Australian Major: the first won the ATP 250 in Melbourne and the second had climbed into the semis of the WTA 250 in Melbourne before declaring package for an abdominal injury. They both confirmed on Monday: in the absence of Novak Djokovic, three-time defending champion expelled the day before, Nadal is a serious candidate to bring the record of Grand Slam titles to 21 and Osaka, although falling back to 14th place in the world , is here to retain his title. “It’s hard to say where I am compared to my best level”, estimated Nadal, 5th in the world, after rolling over the American Marcos Giron (66th) 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

If the match lasted 1 hour 49 minutes (including 49 minutes for the second set alone), it was because the 35-year-old Spaniard committed a few unforced errors (26), particularly in the second set (17), which allowed his opponent to stay on the court a little longer. But not really in the game. Powerful, efficient, mobile, Nadal seems to have recovered well from the foot injury which forced him to end his 2021 season in early August, as well as from the Covid which put him flat in December. “I’m playing better and better,” he agreed. The next to judge will be the Greek Thanasi Kokkinakis (103rd and guest) or the German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann (126th).

” State of mind “

Osaka quietly dismissed Colombian Camila Osorio (50th) 6-3, 6-3. And both her game and her behavior on the court tend to prove that the depression that handicapped her last season is over. “It’s only the first round and what I remember is not the victory but my state of mind,” she said. Now she is having fun on the court, like this completely missed smash she smiled at. “I’m here because I want to be there and because I’m having fun. And that I am aware of having to take advantage of it while there is still time, ”said the 24-year-old player with four major titles (Australian Open 2019 and 2021, US Open 2018 and 2020).

But managing to laugh at her faults is not yet “automatic”, recognized the former world No. 1, explaining that she was still in the process of “changing her state of mind”. In any case, the greater lightness with which she approaches tennis has allowed her to add a weapon to her arsenal: the cut backhand. “I’ve always worked on it but I didn’t feel comfortable enough to use it in matches. But I try not to really worry if I make a mistake on a backhand cut and I know that, little by little, I will do better and better at this shot, ”she explained.

Thundering monfils

The most sensational entry into the running was that of the world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty who took only 54 minutes to dispatch the Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko, 119th and after qualifying, 6-0, 6-1. “It was clean. I did a good job,” analyzed the 25-year-old Australian. The German Alexander Zverev (3rd) had to work hard to beat his compatriot Daniel Altmaier (87th) 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 7-6 (7/1). “It was the first match of a tournament that I hope will be long. Only Roger (Federer) or Rafa (Nadal) is able to play perfectly right away,” pleaded the Tokyo Olympic champion after concluding on his fifth match point.

In the French camp, four passed the first round: Gaël Monfils (20th), who was thunderous against Federico Coria (64th) 6-1, 6-1, 6-3, Adrian Mannarino (69th), who struggled five sets to dismiss James Duckworth (49th) 6-4, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, Benjamin Bonzi (65th), who had a blistering start to beat Peter Gojowczyk (82nd) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, and Harmony Tan (107th), who clearly dominated Yulia Putintseva (42nd) 6-3, 6-3. They will be joined by Corentin Moutet (100th) or Lucas Pouille (160th) who face each other on Monday.

On the contrary, the adventure quickly ended for Kristina Mladenovic, Fiona Ferro and Diane Parry, beaten by stronger than them.

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