Day 1 in Melbourne. Stars Roger Federer and Serena Williams took place. The Frenchman Grégoire Barrère has passed. And it was not the pollution but the rain that disrupted the program.
The weather point
It’s not the pollution but the rain is disrupting the start of the tournament. The Australian Open started on schedule Monday morning after the pollution alert which threatened its good performance. The air quality was deemed “good” by the health authorities in Melbourne (3 on a scale where it was decided to suspend matches from 200). It was finally the rain that came. The first drops fell at 2:39 p.m. (4:39 a.m. in France), forcing the referee to suspend Roger Federer’s match against Steve Johnson in the Rod Laver Arena for a few minutes, time to close the roof. You can play tennis on the three main courts thanks to their retractable roof, but all other meetings on the outdoor courts have been suspended. They still hadn’t resumed at 5 p.m. (7 a.m. in France). 22 matches could have ended before the rain came …
The star
Legend Roger Federer, 3rd in the world, walked around when he entered the fray. An expeditious victory against the American Steve Johnson (75th) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in 1h21 under the roof of the Rod Laver Arena. Winner six times in Melbourne, the Swiss, will face the next round the French Quentin Halys (153rd), from qualifications, or the Serbian Filip Krajinovic (41st).
The surprises
Head of series 13, Denis Shapovalov (13th), finalist at the Rolex Paris masters and in the Davis Cup at the end of 2019, lost 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-1, 7-6 (3 ) facing Marton Fucsovics (67th). The Hungarian will face Jannik Sinner (82nd) or Max Purcell (216th) in the second round. The 20-year-old Canadian failed to break his lead in the fourth set when he led 4-2 before he gave up the game.
It’s also over for Borna Coric. The Croatian (28th) was dominated by the American Sam Querrey (45th) (6-3, 6-4, 6-4). The American will face 2e Ricardas Berankis tower.
The statement
“She doesn’t realize it, all that matters to her is plasticine. I tell her that I am someone! In my neighborhood, I’m just ‘Olympia’s mom’ … and I love it! Serena Williams, evoking in a burst of laughter, her daughter Olympia. In front of her daughter, the 9th in the world, crushed the Russian Anastasia Potapova (90th) 6-0, 6-3 in 58 minutes. The 38-year-old American, who will face the Slovenian Tamara Zidansek (70th) or the Korean guest Na-Lae Han (179th) in the next round.
The outsider
Semi-finalist of the last US Open Matteo Berrettini, 8th in the world, outclassed the Australian Andrew Harris (162nd) who had received an invitation for the main draw (6-3, 6-1, 6-3). The 23-year-old Italian had never passed the first round in two appearances so far. He will face the American Tennys Sandgren (100th) or the Argentinian qualifier Marco Trungelliti (202nd).
The title holder
Naomi Osaka, 4th in the world, did not tremble on Monday to eliminate the Czech Marie Bouzkova (59th), 6-2, 6-4. After losing her service in the second set, led 4-2, she raised her level and aligned four games in a row to win in 1:20. In the second round, Osaka will face the Chinese Saisai Zheng (42nd).
The number
5724
Before the rain break, Aces for Bushfire Relief had already raised 5,182,447 Australian dollars. This campaign was set up to provide support to the Australian people affected by the fires.
The blue corner
Winner Monday in the pain of the Egyptian Mohamed Safwat (173rd in the world) 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), Grégoire Barrère was the first French to join the second round. After saving two set balls in the fourth inning, Barrère finally won in 3:32. The 84th world will play for the first time at 25 years a second round in Melbourne and will face the Argentinian Guido Pella (25th).
La Ascada
The Briton Daniel Evans, was led by two sets 6-3, 6-4 before succeeding in a masterful remount and winning 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 against Mackenzie McDonald.
The unusual
The game between defending champion Naomi Osaka, 4th in the world and Czech Marie Bouzkova (59th), 6-2, 6-4. was briefly interrupted at the start of the second run when Osaka broke the loop that holds the strap in the center of the net for a powerful … but very low serve.
Theanniversary
The American Frances Tiafoe celebrated his 22nd Mondaye anniversary. It was well worth a cake.
In progress and to follow
At 5 p.m. (7 a.m. in France), it was still raining in Melbourne … Under the cover of the Margaret Court Arena, the 15-year-old prodigy Cori Gauff faces the dean Venus Williams, 39, and leads 1 set to 0. Later during the night session (not before 9 a.m. in France), the Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty faces the Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko on the Rod Laver Arean, followed by the title holder and world number one Novak Djokovic against the ‘German Jan-Lennard Struff. On the Margaret Court Arean, Stefanos Tsitispas, seeded in series 6, challenges the Italian Salvatore Caruso.
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