Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Former world number Daniil Medvedev notched up a 7-5 6-2 7-6(2) win over Jesper de Jong to advance to the second round of Australian Open on Monday while Coco Gauff began her campaign with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Kamilla Rakhimova
Three-time Australian Open finalist Medvedev came into Melbourne after winning in Brisbane, but struggled with his served in the initial stages of the opening set.
But the 11th seed battled past it to break at 5-5 before serving out the set with a backhand winner, after which he controlled the flow of action.
And though De Jong offered moments of resistance as he benefiited from two double faults to at 5-4 in the third set to level and force a tiebreak, it wasn't enough from preventing the Russian Medvedev from wrapping up the job.
At Rod Laver Arena, third seed Gauff also wobbled on serve sometimes but was too strong from being denied a straight sets victory.
A quarter-finalist last year, French Open champion Gauff is aiming for her third Grand Slam title and first in Melbourne Park.
The American will next meet Venus-Williams conqueror Olga Danilovic in the second round.
Seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime retired from his opening round match with cramps while trailing Nuno Borges 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The 25-year-old struggled with his upper left leg and called a medical time out late in the third set and again received treatment before start of the fourth set.
After playing two points in the fourth set, Auger-Aliassime retired.
"I'm okay, but I just started cramping at the start of the third set," Auger-Aliassime said. "It became very difficult to be competitive at this level. I tried for a set, but yeah, wasn't possible today."
“I feel for him,” Borges said of Auger-Aliassime. “I know how he feels to struggle physically and it is part of tennis. I hope he gets better quickly and back to his best level.
“It’s a great win for me either way. I thought I competed well. Maybe if he was 100 per cent, it would’ve been a different score, but I’m really happy to push through this one and get another opportunity on Wednesday.”
