Rublev defeats wild-card Thiem
He eliminates former runner-up in straight sets. Sabalenka stays unbeaten on the year.
MELBOURNE, Australia — Andrey Rublev beat wild-card entry Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday to book his place in the second round of the Australian Open.
Thiem, a runner-up at the Australian Open in 2020 and the U.S. Open winner the same year, missed much of 2021 because of injuries but has recovered from outside the top 350 last year to a place just inside the top 100. He was given a wild-card entry by tournament organizers.
“When you see you have to play against Dominic you know it’s not going to be easy. I know he’s going through some not easy times so I wish him all the best to come back to the level he can be as fast as possible,” Rublev said.
Thiem had treatment to his abdominal muscles midway through the second set but said it was not serious and he was not disheartened by his performance.
“This tournament doesn’t change anything because I just had a really tough opponent,” he said. “I hope that I can improve the results at the South American clay.”
No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka maintained her unbeaten start to the year with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Tereza Martincova. Sabalenka, who won the Adelaide International title in the first week of the year, hit 29 winners to her opponent’s seven as she won her fifth consecutive match.
“It wasn’t that easy, I’m super happy to start with the win,” Sabalenka said. “I have to work on my mindset and stay calm and not get too upset when I make mistakes. I really believe this is the only thing missing in my game.”
Rafael Nadal struggled in his pursuit of a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam championship with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over 21-year-old Jack Draper that took more than 31⁄2 hours in Rod Laver Arena.
“I need a victory, so that’s the main thing,” Nadal said. “Doesn’t matter the way.”
Garbine Muguruza, the runner-up in Melbourne in 2020, lost her fifth consecutive match to start the year when she was beaten 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-1 by Elise Mertens.
Off the court, Italy’s Camila Giorgi denied allegations that she obtained a false COVID-19 vaccine certificate to allow her to travel after Giorgi’s name was revealed in a long list of people implicated by an Italian newspaper.
Russia and Belarus f lags banned
Flags from Russia and Belarus were banned from the site of the Australian Open after more than one was brought into the stands by spectators on Day 1.
Normally, flags can be displayed during matches at Melbourne Park. But Tennis Australia reversed that policy for the two countries involved in the invasion of Ukraine.