ShareMELBOURNE: Iga Swiatek survived a tough test against former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin to reach the second round in Melbourne on Tuesday as Carlos Alcaraz prepared to make his bow. The Polish world number one came through 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 against the player she beat to win her first Grand Slam title, at the French Open in 2020.
In-form Swiatek, 22, twice came back from a break down in a gruelling first set lasting 68 minutes but stepped on the gas in the second set, winning the final five games to finish with a flourish. The four-time major winner, now on a 17-match winning streak, next faces unseeded American Danielle Collins, who beat former winner Angelique Kerber 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
“It wasn’t the easiest first round. She played really well. I tried to find my rhythm, especially in the first set,” said the top seed, who owns three Roland Garros crowns and another at the US Open. “I’m happy at the end of the set I could win the most important points.”
Third seed Elena Rybakina, now firmly established in the elite, overcame a slow start and saved three set points to beat former world number one Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (8/6), 6-4. The 2022 Wimbledon champion, last year’s beaten finalist, will face unseeded Russian Anna Blinkova in the second round.
“No matter what the result was last year, I’m super happy to be back,” said the cool Kazakh. “It was very positive for me even though I lost (in the 2023 final).” Emma Raducanu had an easier passage through to the second round, overcoming American Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-2, and will face China’s Wang Yafan next.
The British player stunned the tennis world when she triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2021 but her record since then is patchy and she has only just returned from a injury-enforced eight-month break. There were also wins for former US Open champion Sloane Stephens and American 27th seed Emma Navarro, fresh from her Hobart triumph.
On the men’s side, Danish eighth seed Holger Rune came through in four sets against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka while 11th seed Casper Ruud and Britain’s Cameron Norrie also progressed. Veteran Grigor Dimitrov, who ended a six-year title drought in Brisbane this month, recovered from a rocky start to get the better of Marton Fucsovics in four sets.
Motivated Alcaraz
Wimbledon champion Alcaraz, who is vying with Novak Djokovic for the coveted number one spot, is the main draw in the evening session in Melbourne. The Spaniard, 20, edged the Serbian great in a thrilling final at the All England Club last year to win his second major.
Since that meeting at Wimbledon, world number one Djokovic, a 10-time winner in Melbourne, has come out on top twice against his young opponent, including at the ATP Finals in November. But Alcaraz, who missed last year’s Australian Open with a hamstring injury, is undaunted as he prepares for his first match against veteran Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
He said the challenge of toppling Djokovic—king of Rod Laver Arena—gave him “extra motivation”. “I always want to play against the best players in the world to see what my level is,” he said. “Obviously it’s a good test, playing against him in the places or in the tournament that he’s almost unbeaten.
“Yeah, I am looking to reach the final and hopefully playing a final against him. It would be great, obviously.” Alexander Zverev took to Margaret Court Arena in the evening against fellow German Dominik Koepfer under the shadow of a looming court case.
The world number six will go on trial at the end of May for allegedly assaulting his former girlfriend in 2020. Zverev, who has rejected the allegations, is accused of “physically abusing a woman and damaging her health during an argument”, according to the court. – AFP
