Alcaraz hits stride to sink gutsy Gasquet
Carlos Alcaraz made a winning return to the Australian Open yesterday, but the Spanish second seed faced some early resistance from French veteran Richard Gasquet before cruising to a 7-6(5) 6-1 6-2 victory in the opening round.
The muscular 20-year-old, who skipped last year’s tournament with a right leg issue, appeared overly exuberant at times as he sought quick progress at Melbourne Park but composed himself to grind down his seasoned opponent and blow him away.
“It’s always great to play here in Australia, it’s the third time that I’m playing here,” Alcaraz, who will meet Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the second round, said.
“I didn’t have a good run in the years that I’ve played here, but I enjoyed it a lot today.
“I missed last year and felt really good playing here.
“I struggled a little bit in the first set with his game, but every set I’ve been playing a bit better and in the end I was at a good level.”
Gasquet looked like he had just taken a dip in the nearby
Yarra River for much of the first set as Alcaraz made him sweat for points, but the 37-year-old held firm and drew level at 3-3 in the tiebreak with a breathtaking backhand winner.
However, Alcaraz raised his level from there to go a setup and the floodgates opened as the Wimbledon champion racked up a 3-0 lead in the next before doubling his advantage in the match, showcasing a mix of explosive forehands and deft shots.
With Gasquet fading, Alcaraz stepped up another gear on a balmy evening on Rod Laver Arena for the early break in the third set and settled the contest on serve, finishing with a fiery ace out wide on his fifth match point.
Iga Swiatek came through an opening test of fire in her hunt for a first Australian Open title as the world number one battled past 2020 champion Sofia Kenin 7-6(2) 6-2.
Four years after Swiatek won the pair’s only previous meeting in the French Open final, the 22-year-old twice fought back from a breakdown to claim the opening set in a tiebreak on a sweltering Rod Laver Arena.
The four-times major champion had enjoyed a strong build-up to the year’s opening Grand Slam, with five successive singles wins in Poland’s run to the United Cup mixed team event final, and she broke American Kenin for a 3-2 lead in the next set.
Kenin, who has battled injuries, illness as well as offcourt issues in recent years, fought on bravely and had the opportunity to hit back, but top seed Swiatek stretched her advantage and pulled away for victory.
Up next for Swiatek is 2022 finalist Danielle Collins, who beat former champion Angelique Kerber 6-2 3-6 6-1.
Russian 14th seed Daria
Kasatkina overcame American Peyton Stearns 6-2 3-6 6-2, but she too struggled with the weather.
“It’s windy and its hot, so it was difficult to control the ball,” Kasatkina said, before looking ahead to her secondround clash with former US Open champion Sloane Stephens.
Stephens, who reached a career-high ranking of number three in 2018 but has slipped to 44, eased past local wild card Olivia Gadecki 6-3 6-1.
At least one player was enjoying the weather, Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud basking in the sunshine during a routine 6-1 6-3 6-1 win over Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
“It’s minus 20 back home, so it’s quite a change.
“It’s much nicer to be in the warm summer weather,” Ruud, who lost in the second round in 2023, said.
Holger Rune needed four sets and more than three hours to get the job done against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka as the Danish eighth seed wrapped up a 6-2 4-6 7-6(3) 6-4 victory. —