MELBOURNE, Jan 17: The first test of Naomi Osaka’s new approach to tennis might have been when she completely whiffed an overhead to give her opponent a break point on Day 1 of the no-Novak-Djokovic Australian Open. Osaka didn’t chuck her racket. She didn’t roll her eyes. She smiled.
“There are situations where I previously would get upset. But at this point in my life, like, I’m here because I want to be here and because I find that it’s fun for me,” Osaka said. “Might as well enjoy it while I still can.”
Her title defense began smoothly enough: She won the first five games on the way to a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Camila Osorio on the main court.
Nadal also renewed his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam singles title with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Marcos Giron. Nadal is tied with Djokovic and Roger Federer with 20 major singles titles each, the most in the history of men’s tennis.
With Djokovic unable to defend his crown in Melbourne because he didn’t meet Australia’s strict COVID-19 vaccination criteria, the door is ajar to Nadal.
Osaka’s main concern, meanwhile, is winning a fifth major title, and her third at the Australian Open. A potential fourth-round meeting with top-ranked Ash Barty could be waiting.
Barty, aiming to be the first Australian woman to win the title here since 1978, started with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Lesia Tsurenko.
And, yes, finally, the focus was on tennis in Australia. And it got started in a big way, with a combined 64 matches scheduled on Day 1 in the men’s and women’s singles.
French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari, No. 15 Elina Svitolina and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka all advanced.
Two young U.S. contenders went out in the first round, with 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin losing 7-6 (2), 7-5 to fellow American Madison Keys and No. 18 Coco Gauff saving five match points before losing 6-4, 6-2 to Wang Qiang.
Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic advanced to a second-round match against Amanda Anisimova.
On the men’s side, No. 14 Denis Shapovalov followed up his win with Canada in the ATP Cup with a 7-6 (3), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3) win over Laslo Djere.
Also advancing were No. 7 Matteo Berrettini, No. 10 Hubert Hurkacz, No. 16 Cristian Garin and No. 17 Gael Monfils and No. 23 Reilly Opelka, while No. 12 Cameron Norrie lost in straight sets to Sebastian Korda.
Nadal won the Australian Open in 2009 and is the only past champion in the men’s bracket after Djokovic’s late withdrawal Sunday.
The 35-year-old Spaniard said Djokovic’s absence would have an impact on the tournament. “In a personal level, yes, I would like to see him playing here,” Nadal said.
“If it is fair or not that he’s playing here is another discussion that I don’t want to talk anymore.”
Djokovic had been scheduled to play Monday night’s last match on Rod Laver against fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.
Salvatore Caruso, who became the lucky loser to fill the late vacancy in the draw, lost 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 to Kecmanovic.
A security official with a loudspeaker reminded people outside the complex early Monday to have proof of vaccination ready for inspection and added: “Oh, a ticket would be handy, too!” (AP)
