Serena stays mum over mate Meghan
SAM STOSUR, the 2011 US Open champion, ❑
maintained her Australian Open tradition by losing in the first round for the fifth consecutive year, this time to Coco Gauff’s friend Caty McNally.
MUM was the word for Serena Williams as she began her latest bid to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles by beating Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-3.
The American won her first title as a mother in Auckland earlier this month and celebrated on court with her daughter Olympia. “Did she know what happened? Sadly no,” said Williams. “She just cares about Play-Doh. “I try to tell her I am somebody. I am just known as Olympia’s mum to all her friends. I love that.” Williams, left, was less effusive when asked was mate Meghan Markle, saying: “I have absolutely no comments on anything with that. But good try.”
MARGARET COURT, who continues to cause ❑
controversy with her outspoken views on same-sex marriage and transgender athletes, was a low-profile special guest yesterday on the 50th anniversary of her calendar-year Grand Slam.
DENIS SHAPOVALOV, who threatened to pull out of the Australian Open because of air pollution as he did not want to “risk his life”, was knocked out in the first round by Marton Fucsovics.
The 13th seed from Canada was also hit with a code violation for bouncing his racket into the court in frustration. “I’m not breaking any rules,” he said to the umpire. “I didn’t break it. It’s my racket – I can do whatever I want with it.” Later, the 20-year-old admitted he had been “nervous” but said: “I don’t think what I did was wrong.”
DEFENDING champion Naomi Osaka broke the ❑
net with a 111mph first serve in her 80-minute opening win over Marie Bouzkova. Her father, Leonard Francois, also watched from her box for the first time at a Grand Slam. “He’s just superstitious,” Osaka said.