The Australian Open began with high drama as Novak Djokovic narrowly avoided an early exit, advancing to the second round alongside Carlos Alcaraz and defending champion Jannik Sinner. However, the tournament saw major upsets with the exits of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios in the first round.
Djokovic, pursuing his 11th Australian Open title and a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam, overcame a shaky start against 107th-ranked Nishesh Basavareddy. The Serbian great dropped the first set but rallied back to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory on Rod Laver Arena. Reflecting on the match, Djokovic admitted, “At the end, it was great, but I think he was the better player for a set and a half.”
Sinner, the Italian world number one, faced Chile’s Nicolas Jarry and triumphed 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5), 6-1. Despite ongoing controversy surrounding past doping allegations, Sinner was warmly received by the crowd. Meanwhile, Alcaraz made a strong start, overcoming moments of difficulty to defeat Alexander Shevchenko 6-1, 7-5, 6-1, as he set his sights on his first Australian Open crown.
For home fans, the exit of Nick Kyrgios was a disappointing blow. The Australian, returning after an 18-month injury layoff, struggled against Britain’s Jacob Fearnley and lost 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 7-6 (7/2). Kyrgios, visibly in pain, sought medical assistance during the match and expressed frustration in his typically fiery manner.
Another significant upset came as Tsitsipas, seeded 11th, was defeated by Alex Michelsen 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. The 2023 finalist expressed his disappointment, saying, “It just sucks in a way that I’ll be hanging around for quite a while now before my next tournament.”
In the women’s draw, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek made commanding starts. Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, defeated Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-3, extending her unbeaten streak this year. Swiatek, the world number two, bested Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-4, while US Open finalist Jessica Pegula dispatched Maya Joint 6-3, 6-0.
Notably, two-time champion Victoria Azarenka was eliminated by Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, losing 6-2, 7-6 (7/2). Naomi Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, also impressed, overcoming Caroline Garcia 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
As the tournament progresses, fans eagerly anticipate more high-stakes matches and potential surprises on the road to the finals.
