Caroline Garcia cruised past Naomi Osaka in the first round of the Australian Open without flinching

It was the main poster for this first round of the women’s draw at the Australian Open. Caroline Garcia, the French number one, opens the competition this Monday, January 15, against the Japanese Naomi Osaka, the winner in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021. Authentic and solid in the important moments, Tricol mastered this duel against the former world number 1. After 1 hour 26 minutes of play, Leonese won in two sets (6-4, 7-6 (7-2)).

“It was a tough draw but, in a Grand Slam, every match is critical, Garcia said after the meeting on Eurosport. My emotions have been playing tricks on me lately. I tried to be as calm as possible. »

The context of this clash between the two players has nothing to do with their last meeting, three years ago, at the same tournament – Naomi Osaka won easily in two sets. After spending more than a year without playing in Brisbane (Australia), the Japanese returned to competition in early January. For her part, Caroline Garcia has had a series of checkered results in recent months, suggesting a setback with an uncertain outcome. During the last Grand Slam tournament of 2023, at the US Open, she lost to China’s Wang Yafan 114 in the first round.^E

world player.

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This January 15, Rod Laver Arena witnessed a duel of hitters that turned to the advantage of the Habs. The first set was contested, but Caroline Garcia was strong during the deciding points. Both players punctuated the match with short exchanges and bursts of brilliance. Effective on his service games, Leonese did not concede any break points in the match. In the second set, the No. 20 in the WTA ranking dominated the Japanese in a tie-break (7-2) to achieve a controlled victory. Caroline Garcia will face 69-year-old Magdalena French of Poland in the second round^E in the world rankings.

Monfils wins, Mannarino scares himself

As for the other Frenchmen involved in this second day of competition, the top seeds responded, not without difficulty. Adrian Mannarino, world number 20, took on Swiss Stan Wawrinka. Trailing two sets to one, he turned the situation around and won in five sets. Ugo Humbert, 21^E

In the ATP Rankings, eliminated Belgium’s David Goffin (6-2, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3). The pre-tournament draw gives him a cheap second-round opportunity against Spaniard Jaume Munar (82) respectively.^E world) and Chinese Zhizhen Zhang (54^E global).

Meanwhile, Gael Monfils easily won against German Yannick Hanfmann (6-4, 6-3, 7-5). The Frenchman will challenge Argentina’s Tomas Martin Hevery, who defeated Andy Murray in three sets. This first-round Franco-French duel gave Australian Open audiences a thrilling spectacle, with Hugo Grenier defeating Alexandre Muller in five sets and 4 hours and 10 minutes. Lucas van Assche and Varvara Gracheva also won their tickets. Another round.

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This January 15 will be less fondly remembered for Terrence Atman. As he pocketed the set against world number three Daniil Medvedev of Russia, the Frenchman suffered a cramp. He broke down in tears early in the fourth set. Benjamin Bonzi also held off his better-ranked opponent of the day in 25th-ranked Italian Lorenzo Musetti before losing (6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 2-6). On Court No. 8, Constant Lestin could not do anything against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (4-6, 4-6, 6-7) despite a good fight. In the women’s draw, Fiona Farrow, coming off qualifying, could not get rid of American McCartney Kessler (6-3, 3-6, 2-6).

The first round of the Australian Open will conclude on Tuesday 16 January with Richard Gasquet entering the race, recently outside the world’s top 100 for the first time since 2005, who will find it difficult to face Carlos Alcaraz, the head serial no. 2.

Thomas Delaunay