Novak Djokovic yesterday created a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round, but last year’s women’s finalist Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the biggest shock so far.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, in-form Coco Gauff, two-time Melbourne winner Naomi Osaka and a rampant Carlos Alcaraz were all victors on a rainy day four.
Play was suspended on the outside courts for a couple of hours in the early evening because of the wet weather.
Photo: Reuters
That led to the rescheduling of a women’s doubles match between wild-cards Tsao Chia-yi of Taiwan and Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech and 11th seeds Veronika Kudermetova of Russia and American-born Japanese Ena Shibahara.
They are tentatively set to play today, as is Taiwanese tennis star Hsieh Su-wei, who aims to defend her Australian Open women’s double title.
Hsieh, who also won last year’s mixed doubles title, is seeded third with Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko. They are to start their Australian Open campaign against Tereza Mihalikova of Slovakia and the UK’s Olivia Nicholls.
Photo: AFP
Playing under the roof on Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic needed four sets for the second match in a row before defeating Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-2.
It was Djokovic’s 430th singles match at a major to claim sole ownership of most ever played, men or women, in the Open Era ahead of Roger Federer (429) and Serena Williams (423).
The Serb is chasing a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and historic 25th Grand Slam crown.
“Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart out on the court. I’m just blessed to be making another record,” said Djokovic, 37, now coached by former rival Andy Murray.
Four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz dropped just five games in an ominous display to sprint into the third round, showing no mercy to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 rout in 81 minutes.
“The less time you spend on court in the Grand Slams, especially in the beginning, it is going to be better,” said Alcaraz, who is yet to go beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne.
Olympic champion Zheng was sent packing 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 by world No. 97 Laura Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the women’s draw at age 36.
“I knew I just had to play more than my best tennis. I had nothing to lose so I just told myself to swing free,” the German said.
“It’s tennis. Nothing more,” said China’s Zheng, 22, who was given two time violations and lost her cool as her tilt at a maiden major crown evaporated in only the second round.
Sabalenka dropped her serve three times and faced 11 break points before overcoming Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5, rattling off the last five games in a row.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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