Australian Open 2021: Key details of the first round
Day 2 of the Australian Open kept pace with Monday as several top performances were witnessed in the first round. Many top stars in both men's and women's singles event have made it through to the next round, starting Wednesday. The likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Ashleigh Barty, and Sofia Kenin progressed. Here we look at the key details.
Djokovic and Nadal show authority
Djokovic started his title defence by dropping just six games in a dominating first-round clash against Jeremy Chardy. Djokovic won 6,3, 6-1, 6-2 on Monday to extend his 100% winning record against Chardy to 14 matches. On Tuesday, world number two Nadal dispatched Serbia's Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. He will face Michael Mmoh in the second round, who beat Viktor Troicki.
What about the other top guns in men's singles?
Alexander Zverev (6) beat Marcos Giron 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2. Dominic Thiem (3) beat Mikhail Kukushkin 7-6, 6-2, 6-3. Daniil Medvedev (4) beat Vasek Pospisil 6,2, 6-2, 6-4. Andrey Rublev (7) beat Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) beat Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. Diego Schwartzman (8) beat Elias Ymer 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
Men's singles: Presenting the major shocks
The first round of the Australian Open witnessed a few shocking results as well. 13th seed David Goffin was beaten by Australian wildcard Alexei Popyrin (6-3, 4-6, 7-6, 6-7, 3-6). Meanwhile, 10th seed Gael Monfils broke into tears after being stunned by 21-year-old Emi Ruusuvuori of Finland. The 34-year-old Monfils lost 6-3, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6.
Barty cruises past Kovinic, champion Kenin makes a nervous start
Women's world number one Ashleigh Barty dominated the proceedings against Danka Kovinic, winning in straights sets 6-0, 6-0. However, defending champion Sofia Kenin made a nervous start and was in tears before a 7-5, 6-4 win over Australian wildcard Maddison Inglis. Second seed Simona Halep thrashed Lizette Cabrera 6-2, 6-1. Meanwhile, third seed Naomi Osaka advanced after beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 6-2.
Crucial results scripted in the women's singles first round
Elina Svitolina (5) beat Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-6. Karolina Pliskova (6) beat Jasmine Paolini 6-0, 6-2. Serena Williams (10) beat Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-1. Aryna Sabalenka (7) beat Viktoria Kuzmova 6-0, 6-4. Bianca Andreescu (8) beat Mihaela Buzarnescu (6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Garbine Muguruza (14) beat Margarita Gasparyan 6-4, 6-0.
Major shocks in the women's singles first round
12th seed Victoria Azarenka suffered a shocking defeat against American Jessica Pegula. Azarenka lost 4-6, 5-7 in straight sets. 24th seed and three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber was beaten by Bernarda Pera 6-0, 6-4. 13th seed Johanna Konta, who got injured, was beaten by Kaja Juvan 6-4, 2-0. 16th seed Petra Martic suffered a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 defeat against Olga Danilovic.
