First modification: 09/02/2021 – 12:38
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Melbourne (AFP)
Spaniards Rafa Nadal and Garbiñe Muguruza, banners of the Spanish ‘army’ in Australia, surpassed their debut in Melbourne on Tuesday without giving up a single set to their respective rivals.
Other favorites that entered the fray on Tuesday, such as Russians Daniil Medvedev (N.4) and Andrey Rublev (N.8) and Australia’s Ashleigh Barty (N.1) also passed the round showing their credentials.
In the men’s team, Nadal, world number two, qualified despite his back pain by easily defeating Serbian Laslo Djere (56th) on Tuesday in three sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.
The Mallorcan tennis player got rid of his rival in just under two hours (1h53). A reassuring result for the Spaniard, who had not played an official match for almost three months, and who resigned from the ATP Cup last week due to back pain.
“I managed to win in three sets, it is always positive to start like this. Especially since it is always difficult to play an official match after a long interruption. So it’s a good start, I’m happy,” said Nadal, who is looking to beat the record in Melbourne of Grand Slam titles, which he holds alongside the Swiss Roger Federer (20th).
– Russian double trick –
“As I said two days ago, my back is not in perfect condition. Every day that passes is probably a step towards improvement. There is always a chance that (the pain) will pass and that is why I am here, why I fight to the hope that it goes better and that it can give me a chance “to advance in the tournament, he declared.
In the second round, Nadal will face American Michael Mmoh (177th).
And after their ATP Cup win, the Russian duo Rublev-Medvedev maintains their intimidating form.
Rublev got rid of German Yannick Hanfmann (101st), 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in just 1 hour and 43 minutes.
“I do not know if it can be said that I am playing the best tennis of my life, but I sure played well and reached a high level of play,” congratulated the world No. 8.
Rublev is one of the candidates to conquer Melbourne, which a Russian tennis player has not achieved since Marat Safin in 2005.
The other Russian asset to do so is Daniil Medevedev. Both could face each other in the quarterfinals. The 2020 Masters champion, undefeated for 14 games, beat Canadian Vasek Pospisil (6-2, 6-2, 6-4).
The young Carlos Alcaraz (141º), presented at 17 as one of the future sensations of the circuit, passed the round by beating the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp (151º).
– Barty impression –
The women’s team did not provide any surprises on Tuesday either, beyond the defeat of Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (13th), US Open finalist in September, who lost to American Jessica Pegula (61st) 7-5, 6-4.
The world number 1, the Australian Ashleigh Barty, and the Spanish Garbiñe Muguruza, finalist of the 2020 edition, were expeditious in their respective duels.
Barty, a semifinalist in Melbourne last year, endorsed a 6-0 double against Montenegrin Danka Kovinic (82nd) in 44 minutes.
“I feel great to be here,” said the 24-year-old Australian, who from the beginning showed her cards to aspire to a title that a tennis player from her country has not won in 43 years.
The main favorite of the Spanish women’s army, Garbiñe Muguruza, who is seeking the third Grand Slam title of her career in Australia, also resolved her first commitment in two sets.
The Caracas-born tennis player easily defeated Russian ‘lucky loser’ Margarita Gasparyan (125th), 6-4, 6-0.
Muguruza will be measured in the second round with Liudmila Samsonova (130th), who beat in an even match 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 to the Spanish Paula Badosa (67th), who He tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Australia and is out of strict quarantine.
Another favorite, Sofia Kenin got off to a difficult start in defending her title Tuesday with an unconvincing win over Maddison Inglis, who entered the tournament with an invitation card.
© 2021 AFP
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