MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Jannik Sinner let the Kalota Boys into the crowd at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, flying the red-white-green flag as the Italian Davis Cup star took part in the opening game on Center Court. I helped him feel at home. The first 15 days of the Australian Open.
Sinner won 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in the first round against 59th-ranked Botic van de Zandsschulp, his first victory since November, when he defeated Novak Djokovic twice. It took two and a half hours to complete. And won the Davis Cup.
“It means a lot to me to start with a win,” fourth-seeded Sinner said in a post-match television interview as six fans dressed in carrot costumes cheered from the stands. “Physically, I feel good. I’m fine here. I think I’ll be happy today.”
Sinner said he was surprised to see the Kalota Boys in the crowd.
“It’s nice to see them in the stands,” he said. “They’re slowly becoming more famous than me. Maybe this support will give me more belief in key moments. Who knows? Let’s see what happens here.” But I’m glad they’re here.”
Fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi defeated Adam Walton 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in the first round. In the first match of five full sets, 22nd seed Francisco Cerundro of Argentina defeated Australia’s Sweeney 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
2018 runner-up Marin Cilic lost to Fabian Marozan (Hungary) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.
The first major tournament of the season will be played over 15 days (the first round is split over three days), and for the time being will start on Sunday.
Eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari looked relieved after defeating Japan’s Nao Hibino 6-4, 6-1 for her first Grand Slam win since last year’s Australian Open.
“In the last three Grand Slams, I lost three in the first round,” she said. “Today was a very difficult match for me mentally. I’m glad I did my job correctly and played well in the second set as well.”
Also, 2021 US Open finalist Leila Fernandez defeated 17-year-old Sara Bezirek 7-6 (5), 6-2, while No. 9 Barbora Krejcikova rallied from a set and a breakdown to beat Hontamamai. Beat 2. -6, 6-4, 6-3.
“It wasn’t a perfect match, but I’m glad I was able to keep fighting through some tough moments that I encountered in the first set,” said Fernandez, who lost in the first round. at last year’s US Open. “I think it was a good first round. Just getting a feel for the court, getting a feel for the tournament and improving from there.”
Teenager Brenda Hruvirtova recorded her first Grand Slam win, with the 16-year-old Czech defeating Romania’s Anna Bogdan 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
World No. 28 Lesia Tsurenko came from behind to beat Lucia Bronzetti 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, while Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva defeated veteran French player Alize Cornet 6-2. We defeated them 6-4. Cornet was playing in her 68th consecutive Grand Slam tournament, a record for women.
Novak Djokovic was scheduled to begin his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title in the night session at Rod Laver Arena. He is on a 28-game winning streak at Melbourne Park.
The 10-time Australian Open champion’s first-round opponent will be Dino Prismic, who won the junior title at last year’s French Open.
Aryna Sabalenka was scheduled to begin her title defense against Ella Seidel in the final match of the day on the main show court.
2018 champion Caroline Wozniacki was scheduled to return to the Australian Open for the first time in four years and face last year’s semi-finalist Magda Lynette.
Andre Agassi, who won the last of Australia’s four titles in 2003, carries the trophy into the tennis facility with Evonne Goolagong-Cawley before the match begins on the first of the tournament’s three Sundays. is.
Tournament organizers will honor Goolagong Corey on the 50th anniversary of his first of four Australian Open titles in 1974. She also won Wimbledon twice and the French Open once.
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