Defending champ Osaka opens with an easy victory
MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Open started without nine-time champion Novak Djokovic and, finally, the focus was on forehands and backhands instead of his fight to avoid deportation because he isn’t vaccinated against COVID19.
Defending champion Naomi Osaka had a relatively troublefree, 6-3, 6-3, win over Camila Osorio in her first-round match on Rod Laver Arena. The fourtime Grand Slam singles champion won the first five games of the match before Osorio hit back.
Osaka advanced to the second round against Dayana Yastremska or Madison Brengle.
Former No. 1-ranked Osaka slid down the rankings last year after taking time out following her withdrawal at the French Open. She is 13th at the Australian Open, where she won a year ago and in 2019.
Osorio is ranked 50th in the world and was making her main draw debut at Melbourne Park.
Fifth- seeded Maria Sakkari started the program on the main court at Melbourne Park with a 64, 7-6 (2) win over Tatjana Maria.
Sakkari said the experience was “weird … in a good way.”
“I was a little bit stressed, opening the tournament on this wonderful court,” she said. “It’s a privilege to have my first match here.”
Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic beat Kristina Mladenovic, 6- 4, 6- 3, and 15th -seeded Elina Svitolina had a 6-1, 7-6 (4) win over Fiona Ferro in other early results.
Djokovic had been scheduled to play the final match in the first day on Laver, following No. 1-ranked woman Ash Barty’s contest, but instead the 34-year-old Serb flew back to Dubai.
Showing evidence of vaccination was a requirement for all those entering Melbourne Park on day one of the Australian Open.
A security official with a loud speaker reminded people queuing outside the complex that hosts the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year to have their proof of vaccination ready for inspection and added, “oh, a ticket would be handy, too!”
The Australian Open began under mostly cloudy skies with threats of rain showers.