It’s three out of three as Kiwis march into next round
It was a successful start to the Australian Open for Michael Venus, Marcus Daniell and Artem Sitak, as all three of the New Zealand men’s doubles players scored straight-set victories with their respective partners.
Sitak and American Nicholas Monroe beat the combination of James Cerretani (USA) and Philipp Oswald (Austria) in their first round clash 6-3 ,7-5, while Daniell and Brazilian partner Marcelo Demo liner defeated Guillermo Duran (Argentina) and Joao Sousa (Portugal) 7-6(2) 6-4.
‘‘It was a very solid win, when knew our opponents well and we stuck to the game plan against them,’’ Sitak said. ‘‘I think it was very solid doubles by us and it was a good performance.’’
Daniell was happy to win so he now has a record of passing the first round at all four Grand Slams.
‘‘It’s the first time I’ve actually won a round here, so it feels really good,’’ Daniell said. ‘‘We knew exactly what we were up against having played them a week ago [in Auckland also in the first round].
‘‘We made it a bit hard for ourselves in the first set; we were up in the first set but we didn’t stay on top of them and they fought back. But we got the win and that’s what counts.’’
Daniell was pleased to see his countrymen also win their firstround matches.
‘‘It’s the second slam in a row that the all three Kiwi combos have come through the first round [after] it was in the US Open last year as well. Ideally all of us will go really deep into a slam and it will generate publicity and a groundswell of support for the sport in New Zealand.
Venus and Robert Lindstedt (Sweden), a former winner of the doubles title in Melbourne in 2014, scored a 7-6 (6) 7-6 (2) win over the German team of Andre Begemann and Jan-Lennard Struff, on what Venus called quick courts.
‘‘The courts are playing pretty fast at the moment, so if you can hold your serve you know you’re going to do well,’’ Venus said.
It is likely the Kiwi combinations will now face seeded teams in the second round.
Angelique Kerber smiled and waved her arms like an orchestra conductor as the Rod Laver Arena crowd sang ‘‘Happy Birthday’’ after her 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2 secondround win yesterday at the Australian Open.
The defending champion wasn’t completely on song on her 29th birthday, angrily swiping her racket in the second set in a burst of frustration that momentarily threw her off her game — and allowed Carina Witthoeft back into the match.
Top-ranked Kerber was cool and controlled in the first set, but struggled against some deep, powerful forehands late in the second.
In the tiebreaker, she led 3-2 but double-faulted twice — once on either side of the change of ends — as Witthoeft won five straight points to level the match.
The tension mounted when she dropped her serve to open the third set, but Kerber recovered her composure and took a 4-1 lead, saving two break points in the fifth game.
After skewing a forehand wide on match point, Witthoeft went to the net and gave her fellow German a kiss on each cheek. Kerber can celebrate, then get back to work tomorrow against Kristyna Pliskova, who beat No 27 Irina-Camelia Begu 6-4, 7-6 (8). Pliskova’s twin sister, Karolina, lost the US Open final to Kerber.
‘‘I’m always playing on my birthday — always in Australia,’’ said Kerber, who had her major breakthrough here last year by beating Serena Williams in the final. She later won the US Open and replaced Williams as the yearend No 1.
‘‘I feel like at home here. I’m 29. I’m getting older, but I think I’ll have a great day today.’’
Speaking of age, Venus Williams had to field questions about getting older after energetic performance in her 6-3, 6-2 secondround win over Stefanie Voegele.
The 36-year-old, seven-time singles major winner played the first of her record 73 Grand Slam tournaments at the French Open in 1997.
Back then, she got to play against the likes of Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova.
‘‘I have to talk about this every interview!’’ Williams said. ‘‘I’ve played some of the greats.
‘‘It’s an honour and privilege to start that young,’’ she added, laughing, ‘‘and play this old.’’
Venus and Serena Williams withdrew from a scheduled firstround doubles match later yesterday, citing an injury to Venus’ right elbow. The sisters have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, including four at the Australian Open.
Venus thought she could manage the injury and play both singles and doubles, but decided she couldn’t after her singles match went 83 minutes.
In the second set, serving and with a game point, she chased the ball like a teenager from one side of the court to the other, and back, trying to finish off. Her forehand landed too long, but her intention was clear. Get through the round ASAP.
At 15-15 and 5-2 in the second, she was still remonstrating with herself after missing a point. She finished off the match later in the same game, another break, to reach the third round. Williams lost to eventual semifinalist Johanna Konta in the opening round last year.
In the next round she’ll play Duan Yingying, who beat Varvara Lepchenko 6-1, 3-6, 10-8. Two-time major winner Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Australian wildcard entry Jaimee Fourlis 6-2, 6-1 and will next play former No 1ranked Jelena Jankovic, a 6-3, 6-4 winner of Julia Goerges.
Alison Riske defeated No 20 Zhang Shuai 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-1.
No 11 Elina Svitolina had a 6-4, 6-1 win over US qualifier Julia Boserup to advance to a thirdround match against No 24 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a 6-2, 6-2 winner over fellow Russian Natalia Vikhlyantseva .
On the men’s side, No 10 Tomas Berdych had a 6-3, 7-6 (6), 6-2 win over Ryan Harrison and will meet 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in the next stage.
Federer advanced by beating American Noah Rubin 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(3)
US Open champion Stan Wawrinka advanced 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 over Steve Johnson.
Fifth-ranked Kei Nishikori set up a third-round match against Lukas Lacko with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win over Jeremy Chardy, and No 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Dusan Lajovic 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.