Arthur Fils and Iga Svitek advance to the second round, Arthur Kazouaks surprises… What to remember from the night and the French

For his first partnership in Melbourne, the young Frenchman made a successful debut. Like the world number one, Iga Switech. Arthur Cazaux also stood out.

Arthur Phils took the stage at the Australian Open on the third day of the first round. The latter did not miss his debut and qualified for the second round on Tuesday 16 January. He joins his compatriot Arthur Cazeaux, who signed the first Grand Slam win of his career. In the women’s draw, Iga Switek was somewhat stalled but the Pole passed logically.

FRENCH: Phils make their mark, Kazakhs surprise

Adapting to the heat and pressure of the first match in Melbourne lasted almost two sets. But 19-year-old French tennis hope Arthur Fils had success in his first steps at the Australian Open, mastering Jiri Vesely, a former top 40 Czech ranked around 300 in the world, (4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3).

After nearly two sets on the back foot, Phils managed to find a flaw in the second round’s “money time”, Vesely, apparently suffering from the heat, called a doctor, who significantly took his blood pressure. Returning to sets everywhere, the world number 34 then firmly took control of the match and won in less than three hours (2 hours 44 minutes). In the second round, the Habs will face either Dutchman Talon Grekspoor (31st) or Russian Roman Safiulin (36th).

Arthur Kazaux also took his first victory in Melbourne. Apart from that, for the world number 122, it was his first success in a Grand Slam tournament, and his second success on the main circuit. Opinion, Cazaux World No. 33, Serbian Laszlo Djere (6-2, 6-7 (7-3), 6-2, 3-6, 6-2). In the second round, Kazaux will face Danish world No. 8 Holger Rune, who defeated Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka (61st) in four sets (6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4). .

Among the girls, Osen Dodin and Clara Burrell also qualified after beating China’s Lin Xu (6-4, 6-3) and Serbian Aleksandra Krunic (6-4, 6-1) respectively.

Favorite: Switech avoids the trap

World number one Iga Svitek avoided the trap set by 2020 Melbourne crowner Sofia Kanin but eventually defeated her (7-6 (7-2), 6-2) on Tuesday.

The American (ranked 41st in the world) nevertheless gave the Pole a tough time with four Grand Slam trophies: she won 3 games to 1, won the first set 5 to 4 and was forced to scrap a total of almost two hours for her entry into the run. Sweetak The second round will see another American who has also shone in Melbourne in the past: Daniel Collins (62nd), a finalist in 2022.