A confident start that gives hope for a two-week long journey. Jannik Sinner gets through the first round at the Australian Openthe first Slam of the season (with a record prize pool of 96.5 million Australian dollars) on the hard courts of Melbourne Park. The 23-year-old tennis player from South Tyrol, number 1 in the ATP ranking and reigning champion, won on his debut against the Chilean Nicolas Jarry, 36th in the world rankings, in three sets with a score of 7-6(2) 7-6(5) 6-1, gained after two hours and 40 minutes of play.
«I was good at managing complicated situations in the first two sets – Sinner said immediately – I really like the crowd in Australia, as well as the courts. But every year, every day is different from the other. I’m happy to have won, I can do a couple of things better but it’s the first match of the season: I’m satisfied.” «Success should never change you as a person – the Italian champion then added – last year was beautiful but I think I’m still the same. I have the best team in the world with me.”
In the second round Sinner will face the 23 year old Australian Tristan Schoolkate, in the draw with a wild card and number 173 ATP, who beat the Japanese Taro Daniel in four sets on his debut with a score of 6-7(6) 7- 6(4) 6-1 6-4, after three hours and 14 minutes of match.
Great day also for Francesco Passaro. The Perugian, number 104 ATP, restored due to the withdrawal of Fabio Fognini, benefits at 7-5 2-1 in his favor from the withdrawal of the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, number 10 in the world and of the tournament. In the second round the Umbrian, who has virtually risen to n.89 in the ranking, will face the French Benjiamin Bonzi (64 ATP), who eliminated the Belgian David Goffin (54) 6-1 6-2 7-6( 7).
Remaining in the men’s draw, both Novak Djokovic, who christened his collaboration with coach Murray by beating the American wild card Nishesh Basavareddy in four sets, and Carlos Alcaraz against the Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko made their successful debuts. The negative surprise comes from Stefanos Tsitsipas, eliminated on his debut by the American Alex Michelsen.
Among the women, a good first for Lucia Bronzetti. The girl from Romagna, n.76 WTA, defeated on her debut the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, n.24 in the ranking and 21 in the seeding, winner twice in Melbourne (2012 and 2013) but capable of reaching the semi-final again two years ago, in two sets with the score of 6-2 7-6(2), after two hours and 13 minutes of play. Bronzetti’s next rival is the Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, n.82 WTA, who beat the Croatian lucky loser Petra Martic 6-2 4-6 7-6(7). However, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, n.56 WTA, was out, beaten in one hour and 45 minutes of the match, 7-6(4) 6-4, by the Russian Diana Shnaider, n.13 in the world rankings and 12th on the scoreboard, after missed two set points in the first set.
Both the Polish Iga Swiatek and the American Coco Gauff, Sabalenka’s two main rivals, start with the wind in their sails.