Gauff impresses with rout of Schmiedlova
MELBOURNE — Coco Gauff began her quest for back-to-back Grand Slam women’s singles titles with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova at the Australian Open on Monday.
The 19-year-old American, who won her first major at the US Open in September, wrapped up victory in exactly one hour.
“I was a little nervous the first set,” fourth-seeded Gauff said. “I think I did well returning, then I found my serve toward the end [of the set]. When I was nervous at 3-3, I told myself: ‘I feel good, I look good, so just have fun’. That was able to relax me a little bit.’ ”
Earlier, there was a surprising defeat for Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova as she was beaten, 6-1, 6-2, by Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine.
Seventh-seeded Vondrousova missed the Adelaide tune-up event with a hip injury and struggled on serve throughout, hitting seven double faults as she was well-beaten by the world No. 93-ranked player. In other early women’s play, 19th-seeded Elina Svitolina, advanced to the second round, beating Taylah Preston, a wild-card entry from Australia, 6-2, 6-2.
On the men’s side, 18-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic unsettled defending champion Novak Djokovic before Djokovic finished off the match, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4, during a first-round match on opening at Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic said he’d been feeling “under the weather” for four or five days but credited Prizmic’s talent. The first set played out just about as expected. From there, it became quite a ride.
Prizmic took the second set off Djokovic and went up a break in the third, stunning a capacity crowd, before the world's No. 1-ranked player broke back and took the set.
Prizmic didn’t give up when he trailed 4-0 in the fourth, either, saving a break point before getting a service break back. He saved three match points at 5-3 down and made Djokovic serve it out. He then saved a further two match points before it ended in 4 hours 1 minute.
“He deserved every applause, every credit he got tonight,” Djokovic said. “Amazing performance for someone that is 18 years old and never had the experience of playing on a big stage. Kudos to him.”
The first of three Sundays — an extra day was introduced at Melbourne Park to try to reduce the number of post-midnight finishes — didn’t have quite the desired outcome.
Fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev needed four hours to beat Thiago Seyboth Wild, 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6). He later admitted fears his first-round match would end like his friend Daniil Medvedev’s did at last year’s French Open: in an upset.
No. 12 Taylor Fritz needed a medical timeout to get his left ankle taped in the second set before he recovered to beat Facundo Diaz Acosta, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, in a seesawing four-hour match.
Frances Tiafoe, the 17 th seed, beat Borna Coric, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-3, in 3½ hours and Daniel Elahi Galan needed almost five hours to beat Australia's Jason Kubler, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 7-6 (8-6).
Djokovic’s late finish meant defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka didn't start until 11:41 p.m. local time. The No. 2 seed didn't waste much time until right near the end, ousting 18-year-old Ella Seidel, 6-0, 6-1, in 53 minutes on her seventh match point.
Italy’s Davis Cup star Jannik Sinner advanced after a 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 first-round win over No. 59ranked Botic van de Zandschulp in 2½ hours in the men’s draw. It was his first match since a memorable November when he twice beat Djokovic and won the Davis Cup.
“Means a lot to me to start off with a win,” fourth-seeded Sinner said in a TV interview as a half-dozen fans dressed in carrot costumes cheered from the stands. “Physically, I feel good. I’m here in good shape. I think I can be happy for today.”
Women’s eighth seed Maria Sakkari admitted her relief after she beat Nao Hibino of Japan, 6-4, 6-1, her first Grand Slam win since last year’s Australian Open.
Also advancing were 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, who beat 17-year-old Sara Bejlek, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, and No. 9 Barbora Krejcikova, who rallied from a set and a break down to beat Mai Hontama, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Two 16-year-old players advanced to the second round: Brenda Fruhvirtova recorded her first Grand Slam win, overcoming Anna Bogdan, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, and Alina Korneeva — the Australian Open junior champion last year — who rallied to beat Sara Sorribes Tormo, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Another Russian qualifier, Maria Timofeeva had a 6-2, 6-4 win over Alize Cornet, who was appearing in a women’s record 68th consecutive Grand Slam event.