Medvedev starts Open quest in style
Daniil Medvedev has risen to the occasion to sweep into the Australian Open second round with a straight-sets win over Swiss Henri Laaksonen.
Thrust into title favouritism for the first time at a major following Novak Djokovic’s dramatic deportation on Sunday night, Medvedev responded with a 6-1 6-4 7-6 (7-3) victory in his tournament opener on Rod Laver Arena.
‘‘I’m feeling great. Yeah, hopefully I can show some good signs here throughout the two weeks,’’ the Russian said.
‘‘I like pressure ... definitely last year started well here in Australia. Won the ATP Cup, managed to be in the final.
‘‘So, yeah, it’s a really important tournament for me always in Australia.
‘‘I like to play here, I like hardcourt. So always want to do better than I did last year, but it’s not going to be easy.’’
Yesterday’s victory extended the world No 2’s grand slam winning streak to eight matches after Medvedev beat Djokovic in the US Open final last September.
Now the 25-year-old is bidding to claim back-to-back slams and has a golden opportunity with the world No1 spectacularly removed from the draw.
Meanwhile, Garbine Muguruza kept a perfect streak intact yesterday, winning her first-round match at the year’s first tennis grand slam event for the 10th straight time.
Muguruza, who finished on a high in 2021 by winning the season-ending WTA Finals, had a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Clara Burel, a 20-year-old from France who is ranked 77th, to open play on Rod Laver Arena on day two.
A two-time major winner and runner-up in Australia in 2020 to Sofia Kenin — who was a firstround loser on Monday — Muguruza said she’s extra cautious early in a big tournament.
‘‘I am aware, I am aware,’’ Muguzura said, laughing, when asked if she knew her Melbourne
Park streak. ‘‘’Very tricky. You’re always nervous going out there on Rod Laver, which I love, and starting a grand slam campaign. I’ve always gone through the first round. Very happy the way I played and, of course, controlling the nerves.’’
Third-seeded Muguruza will next play French veteran Alize Cornet, who beat Viktoriya Tomova 6-3, 6-3.
Seventh-seeded Iga Swiatek opened with a 6-3, 6-0 win over 123rd-ranked British qualifier Harriet Dart.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova lost to Sorana Cirstea, of Romania, for the second straight year, this time 6-2, 6-2 in the first round.
‘‘Yeah, I think that she likes my game, that she just is going for it,’’ Kvitova, an Australian Open finalist three years ago, said. ‘‘I did have some health issues the whole month, as well, so it was tough to practice during home month.’’
Also advancing were No19 Elise Mertens, who beat Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 7-5, and former US Open champion Sam Stosur, who rallied to beat Robin Anderson, of the US, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 to start her 20th Australian Open campaign.
In early men’s results No13 Diego Schwartzman beat Filip Krajinovic 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 and No27 Marin Cilic beat Emilio Gomez 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.