Defending Australian Open champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys superior in Melbourne as Brits Sonay Kartal and Katie Boulter bowed out.
World No 2 Sinner superior to the second spherical after his French opponent Hugo Gaston retired after two units whereas trailing 6-2 6-1.
Gaston was in tears after he advised Sinner he couldn’t proceed, with the Italian second seed consoling him.
Keys discovered herself 4-0 down within the first set earlier than recovering to win.
The American claimed a long-sought-after maiden Grand Slam victory right here 12 months in the past, beating Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka on Rod Laver Enviornment, however returning to the identical court docket towards Ukrainian debutante Oleksandra Oliynykova threatened to show right into a nightmare.
Keys misplaced the opening 4 video games, clawed her approach again to a tie-break and needed to save two set factors earlier than lastly enjoyable and pulling away to win 7-6 (8-6) 6-1.
“The moment they say, ‘Ready, play’, it kind of all hits you in a way that I don’t think you can ever really explain to someone,” mentioned a relieved Keys afterwards.
“But, as nerve-racking and as stressful as that can be, I’m still reminding myself of just how few people get to be in that moment, and being able to walk out today and have the crowd be as welcoming as they were, I’ll take the stress any day.”
Ukraine’s Oliynykova finds pleasure on Grand Slam debut
Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova spoke concerning the bombs that also rattle her dwelling in Kyiv
Though she couldn’t pull off the upset, it was a second of immense delight for 25-year-old Oliynykova, who made her mark for extra than simply her non permanent facial tattoos.
She has risen quickly up the rankings and revealed she takes inspiration from her father, who’s preventing for Ukraine within the nation’s struggle with Russia.
“I’m so proud of him,” she mentioned. “Actually, this is something that is keeping me motivated even more. After he joined the military, I did progress for over 200 (ranking) positions, because I know it was his dream to see me on this court.”
In contrast to most of her compatriots, Oliynykova nonetheless lives and trains in Ukraine, with all the hazards that at present brings.
“During the preparations, I was hearing the explosions,” she mentioned. “There was a couple of massive attacks the last night I spent in Ukraine before the trip here.
“There was an explosion simply close to my dwelling, and a drone hit the house simply throughout the street. My condominium was actually shaking due to the explosion. In my condominium, I’ve no electrical energy, no water, no warmth. Each alternative to say about this, I consider it is crucial.”
Osaka makes grand entrance with trend assertion
Naomi Osaka made a trend assertion and fairly an entrance to the Australian Open, carrying a wide-brim hat, veil and holding a white umbrella as she walked onto Rod Laver Enviornment for her first-round match.
The four-time Grand Slam champion was taking part in No 65-ranked Antonia Ruzic of Croatia within the final match on Rod Laver Enviornment.
Anne Keothavong, talking on TNT Sports activities: “She’s making a statement isn’t she. That is all you have to say. I have never seen anything quite like it. That is the ultimate walk-on.”
Tim Henman: “I am speechless.”
Boulter defeat leaves Raducanu flying solo
Katie Boulter leaves the court docket following her first spherical loss to Belinda Bencic
Emma Raducanu will carry British hopes alone into the second spherical of the ladies’s singles on the Australian Open after Boulter was crushed by Swiss star Belinda Bencic.
Boulter has slumped to 113 within the rankings and solely sneaked into the draw on the final minute – to seek out herself paired with arguably probably the most in-form participant within the girls’s sport.
The British No 4 no less than rallied within the second set earlier than slipping to a 6-0 7-5 defeat and becoming a member of Kartal in making a first-round exit.
Kartal: My degree hasn’t been that low for years!
Sonay Kartal declared her efficiency the worst she had performed in years
Kartal declared her efficiency the worst she had performed in years after slumping to defeat.
There was no shame for the British No 2, who’s ranked 66th, in dropping to thirty first seed Anna Kalinskaya, nevertheless it was the way of her 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 defeat than rankled.
Kartal arrived in Melbourne on the again of a really slender loss to Elina Svitolina in Auckland that appeared to have carried on her momentum from a powerful finish to final season.
She initially had the higher hand towards Kalinskaya however finally paid for relying an excessive amount of on the Russian’s errors.
Kartal performed a poor tie-break and her probabilities of a comeback evaporated as Kalinskaya opened up a 5-0 lead within the second set.
“Obviously very disappointed,” mentioned Kartal, who remains to be on the lookout for her first victory on the event.
“For me, it was not my finest at all, even my base level was not really there today, which is something I rely on.
“I believe, if I might return on the market now and play that match once more, I might play it a totally totally different approach.
“Maybe she did raise her level but my level dipped to a level that hasn’t been that low for years, probably.
“I ended final 12 months feeling good and really feel like I used to be coaching properly. The nice and cozy-up this morning, I used to be taking part in properly.
“I’m super disappointed, especially after Auckland. It’s a long old season ahead so I’m not going to look too deep into this.”
Merci Monfils! Gael Monfils bids emotional farewell
Tennis showman Gael Monfils bowed out of his twentieth and closing Australian Open with a mixture of ache and remorse as he fell to an injury-hampered 6-7 (3-7) 7-5 6-4 7-5 defeat within the first spherical to native qualifier Dane Sweeny.
The 39-year-old Frenchman had flashes of his trademark flamboyance and one way or the other made a sport of it regardless of being severely restricted in his motion amid a heady ambiance at Kia Enviornment.
“My journey started in 2003 with you guys, now we are in 2026 and somehow it’s the finish line. Thank you so much for this amazing ride, you guys have been unbelievable,” Monfils advised the cheering followers who gave him a standing ovation.
“I’ve got a lot of great memories here. I’ve been very lucky to play here for many years. Thank you very much.”
On a very good day for the large names, Ben Shelton recorded a straight-sets victory, whereas males’s fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti had fought again from a set down to guide Raphael Collignon by two units to 1 when the Belgian grew to become the newest participant to retire injured.
Teenage star Joao Fonseca, although, remains to be ready for his Grand Slam breakthrough after dropping 6-4 2-6 6-1 6-2 to American Eliot Spizzirri.
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