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The cool Shang, the regular Gauff, the distressed Kyrgios… What to remember from the night in Melbourne

The performance of the youngest player on the table, the American who did not miss her entry has an appointment with Emma Raducanu, the package of the whimsical Australian, a look back at the highlights of the first night of the Australian Open .

The big premiere

For Juncheng Shang. The 17-year-old Chinese (194e), coming from qualifying (during which he lost only one set), is the youngest player in the men’s draw. Won 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 over Germany’s Oscar Otte, becoming the first Chinese to win a main draw singles match at the European Open. Australia since the Open era. He signs his first victory on the main circuit (which already allows him to gain 50 places in the ATP rankings) after his first three unsuccessful appearances in the tables in Rio de Janeiro, Indian Wells and Miami.

Juncheng Shang PAUL CROCK / AFP

« I gave 100% and I think I controlled my emotions very well. This is my first time playing a Grand Slam and I’m just super excited for what’s to come. He will meet the American Frances Tiafoe (16e) or the German Daniel Altmaier (91e). This is the first time that three Chinese have appeared in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament. Zhang, 26, became the first Chinese to break into the world top 100 in singles in October, while Wu, 23, created became the first Chinese to win a singles match at the US Open. Grand Slam in the main draw. Symbols of an ascension.

L’info

Nick Kyrgios, expected attraction of the tournament, announced his retirement on Monday due to a knee problem. Friday, the whimsical Australian had participated in a training session against Djokovic (in front of 15,000 spectators) but the test did not prove conclusive. He was forced, psychologically” destroy “, to give up before his first match against the Russian Roman Safiullin (98e global). This last minute withdrawal sounds like a blow for the Australian (Wimbledon finalist and US Open quarter-finalist who had lived a 2022 season full of promise), for the tournament which loses one of its main outsiders and for the spectators who were ready to ignite for the terrible child of Australian tennis (last year Kyrgios had, in the company of Thanasi Kokkinakis, ensured the spectacle by winning the doubles tournament).

Nick Kyrgios SAEED KHAN / AFP

For the first time in ten years, Nick Kyrgios (n°19) will not participate in the Australian Open. This last minute withdrawal sounds like a blow for the Australian (Wimbledon finalist and US Open quarter-finalist who had lived a 2022 season full of promise) and for the tournament which was ready to ignite for the terrible child of Australian tennis. For the first time since 2014, Nick Kyrgios (n°19) will not participate in the Australian Open.

The pioneer

Pegula express. Jessica Pegula did not drag. The American victorious 6-0, 6-1 in 59 minutes from the Romanian Jaqueline Cristian (161st) registered as the first player to qualify for the 2e round of the Australian Open. “ Everything worked fine “, summarized the seeded n ° 3 (1 ace; 83% of points scored on his 1is service ; 13 winning points; 5 break points converted from 8). In the next round, the 28-year-old will face Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich (38th) or Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova (136th and qualifying).

The cold sweats

American Danielle Collins, unfortunate finalist in 2022, escaped 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 in 3h3 from the trap set by Greek Anna Kalinskaya. An intense, undecided match. The match at the start of the tournament. Recovering from her emotions, the American will be opposed to the Czech Karolina Muchova or the Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko.

The appointment

Coco Gauff after a quiet start to the game, trailed 4-2 in the 2e set, and the match could have changed but the young American was able to regain control to extinguish the resistance of the Czech Katerina Siniakova (46th) and overcome the obstacle of 1e round 6-1, 6-4 (Greek Maria Sakkari, n°6, who hit 38 winners lived the same scenario, before passing, on the same score, against Chinese Yue Yuan, 119e). Au 2e round, the American will be opposed to the Briton Emma Raducanu (77th), winner of the US Open 2021 who dismissed 6-2, 6-3 the Czech Katerina Siniakova (48e). Gauff-Raducanu, a great first on the circuit. A match between the unfortunate finalist of Roland-Garros 2022 and the winner of the US Open 2021. A match, two headliners which could, if the Briton regains her momentum, become a classic on the circuit.

In the blue corner

The French started the campaign with two defeats. Arthur Rinderknech (59th in the world), who distinguished himself last year during a 1is epic round won in 5 sets against the Australian Alexei Popyrin was sharply beaten by the Japanese Yosuke Watanuki, 138th and coming from the qualifications, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. “He (Watanuki) played his game, he had his game plan against me, but let’s not kid ourselves: I didn’t play a game, I didn’t do much… he didn’t was not difficult to fight me today“Lamented the 59th in the world. Before adding: It’s a failed copy… It’s not really my case in general, except for a real reason. There are things upstream that have meant that I am not in the best of moods, but physically there is no problem so I must be able to do better than that. »

Australian Open JAIMI JOY / REUTERS

Grégoire Barrère lost 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry (80e) who will be opposed to the Italian Jannik Sinner on the 2e round. Clara Burel then offered a beautiful smile by dominating 6-3, 6-4 the Australian Talia Gibson (340e), resulting from the qualifications. Corentin Moutet (62)e) who called the healer for neck pain in the 1is set got the better of Chinese Yibing Wu (114th) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in 4:14. He will meet Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (29th) at 2e tour.

The tweet

The meticulousness of Rafael Nadal undermined. In the 1is set against the Briton Draper, defending champion Rafael Nadal was upset in his routine. He, for whom must always be aligned, without false note, was surprised not to find his racket. “ The ballboy left with “, he amused himself. The Spaniard opens his tournament against the Briton Jack Draper (40e). At 6:45 a.m., the two players were tied 7-5, 2-6, 1-1 with Rafael Nadal serving.

L’image

Nike slipped colors into the outfits of Emma Raducanu or Bianca Andrescu. But the equipment manufacturer dripped its colors on Frances Tiafoe’s t-shirt and shorts. Spectacular. An outfit that did not go unnoticed. At 6:45 a.m., the American was in the third set tie-break, having won the first two 6-3, 6-3.

The performance

Anissimova out. The American Amanda Anissimova, n°28 (8th-finals of the Australian Open and Roland-Garros in 2022, quarter-finalist at Roland-Garros last year), who had dismissed 2 match points to eliminate Naomi Osaka at 3e round last year, fell from the start, swept away by the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk (57e) 6-3, 6-4. She will face the Australian Olivia Gadecki (200eguest).

To be continued, from 9 a.m.

The entry into the running of the world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. The Polish will be, on the Rod Laver Arena, opposed to the German Jule Niemeier (68e), before Daniil Medvedev (n°7) against the American Marcos Giron (60e). On the Margareth Court Arena, Quentin Halys (64e) will face Stefanos Tsitsipas (n°3). Before a match between the American Madison Keys (n°10) and the Russian Anna Blinkova (72e).

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