Jannik Sinner yesterday barely broke sweat in launching his quest to win a third Australian Open in a row as Naomi Osaka stole the show with a bold fashion statement.
Meanwhile, Frenchman Gael Monfils bid farewell to Melbourne Park with an epic defeat and thanks for “an amazing ride.”
Italy’s Sinner strolled into round two when French opponent Hugo Gaston retired on Rod Laver Arena with the second seed in full control at 6-2, 6-1.
Photo: AP
Gaston, who had an abdominal injury, slumped to his chair and shook his head as his tournament ended in distress.
Two-time reigning champion Sinner said it was not how he wanted to win, but was pleased with his night’s work.
“I knew from the beginning that I had to play a very high level and was trying to be as aggressive as possible, which I’ve done,” he said.
Photo: AFP
Should he win three titles in a row in Melbourne, Sinner would join Novak Djokovic as the only men in the Open era to do so.
Great entertainer Monfils was bundled out in the first round in a brave goodbye to a tournament he has lit up so many times down the years.
The 39-year-old, one of the most colorful and popular players in men’s tennis, battled all the way, but Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny prevailed 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 in an epic lasting nearly four hours.
There was an on-court presentation and standing ovation afterward for Monfils, who said: “Somehow it is the finish line, but thank you so much for an amazing ride.”
Monfils, who has won 13 ATP titles in a career stretching back to 2004, said in October last year that this year would be his last in tennis.
Italian fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti moved on when his Belgian opponent Raphael Collignon retired in the fourth set.
Ben Shelton, the eighth seed and a semi-finalist last year, saw off France’s Ugo Humbert, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5).
However, Brazilian 19-year-old Joao Fonseca, touted on the eve of the tournament by Roger Federer as a star of the future, was dumped out by Eliot Spizzirri at the first hurdle.
The American defied the crowd of chanting Brazilian fans to win 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Former world No. 1 Osaka emerged for the last match on Rod Laver Arena clutching a white parasol and wearing a matching wide-brimmed hat and veil.
The 28-year-old from Japan is well known for her on and off-court fashion statements.
She wore her latest outfit as she came out for her night match against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic.
She waved regally to the crowd, and the four-time Grand Slam champion then folded up the umbrella and neatly put the hat and veil to the side.
Osaka, a two-time former champion, went on to win 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 and said of her eye-catching outfit: “It is modeled after jellyfish, it’s really beautiful.”
In the first match of the day, Madison Keys admitted being “very nervous” as she launched her title defense with a shaky win.
Keys lost the first four games before rallying to beat Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova 7-6 (8/6), 6-1.
“I’ve been thinking about this moment for basically a year,” the American said of walking out on center court again.
With a very offbeat style of play and even more unique body art, Oliynykova stood out.
She had distinctive facial and other body ink — she said many of her tattoos were only temporary and could be washed off.
She also admitted that her style of play can throw opponents off.
“My idea is to do my weird things on court, but to be the best player with this type of game. I mean, I saw today that even for one of the best players in the world, it could be really uncomfortable,” she added.
Additional reporting by AP
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