Djokovic pushes, Perry and Haleys qualify, Cornet on the mat… What to remember from the night and the French

The opening of the first Grand Slam of the year. For this first day in Melbourne, Frenchwoman Diane Perry qualified for the second round with a win against top seed No. 30 on Sunday, January 14. Quentin Halis ended Australia’s eight-year drought by ousting Lloyd Harris. On the other hand, the day was less bright for Elise Cornet and Arthur Rinderknecht, who had already been eliminated. If the Italian Janic Sinner validated his ticket to the next round without problems, the Russian Andrey Rublev had to fight to qualify. Surprisingly, Novak Djokovic will also be in the second round after his victory over Dino Prismic.

Favourites: Djokovic cruises past in four sets, Sabalenka Express

He probably thought his first round against Dino Prismic, just 18 years old and qualifying, would be a little less difficult. But the Croatian prodigy, generous in his efforts and very solid in his baseline game, showed the piss against the world No.1. Although not enough to win, “Nole” eventually won in four tight sets (6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-4) and 4h01 of the game.

The Serb did not dispel all suspicions that he had crossed. Facing trouble in the second set – which he lost – and the third, from which he came out in 71 minutes, Djokovic took advantage of the drop in form and clarity of his opponent – who still saved five points from the match – to advance all out in the fourth round. It is only the second time since 2017 that the world number 1 has dropped a set in the first round of the Australian Open.

Aryana Sabalenka did not have to struggle long or hard to reach the second round. The defending champion won decisively in two sets (6-0, 6-1) and 53 minutes of play against German Ella Seidel, 18 years old and qualified. Note that the Belarusian needed seven match points to win.

French: Perry and Helis in second round, Cornet and Rinderknecht already out

This is the great news of the day. Diane Perry has reached the second round of the Australian Open for the first time in her career. A fine blow for the Frenchwoman who saw off 30th seed Xinyu Wang of China in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. Although she was completely out of control during the second round, the Frenchwoman managed to emerge from this difficult first round with authority in the last set. She will face Russian Kamila Rakhimova (90th WTA) in the next round.

Even Quentin Halys can smile. The Frenchman won in Melbourne for the first time in eight years against Lloyd Harris in four sets (4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, 7-6 (7-2)) and just over three. The world number 100 quickly recovered after losing the first set, facing an opponent who refused to be physical but who caused problems until the end of the match. In the second round he will face the winner of the opposition between Sebastian Korda and Vit Kopriva.

For Elise Cornet, on the other hand, it’s already over. The 33-year-old from Nice, ranked 112 in the world and an invitee, was stopped early by young Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva 6-2, 6-4. Both players battled for more than two hours. Elise Cornet remarkably denied two 6-0 balls in the first set. It was a record fourth first-round loss in the last five Grand Slam tournaments for a woman playing her 68th consecutive major tournament. 20-year-old Maria Timofeeva (ranked 144th in the WTA) won the first Grand Slam of her young career.

When we tell you that Elise Cornet is fighting on all issues ⬇️ #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Q0wrycoc0L

Qualifying and quickly losing in two sets (6-2, 6-4) and 1h12 by American Caroline Dolehide, ranked 44th in the world, is also no miracle for Leolia Jeanjean.

A similar scenario for Arthur Rinderknecht (world No. 97) after nearly five hours and five rounds of 7-5, 6-1, 6-7 (6-8) defeat by ATP No. 64 Russian Pavel Kotov, 6-7 (5- 7), 6-3. When the The 28-year-old Frenchman, however, fired a match point in the deciding game of the third set to salvage the situation at the last minute and then storm back to take two sets down., Pavel Kotov prevented this “comeback”. In three appearances, Arthur Rinderknecht has made it past the first round just once in 2022.

Notable results: Sinister without shivering, Rublev was warm

First round in full control. World No. 4 Janic Siner, who arrived in Melbourne without having played a preliminary tournament, made a strong entry by dominating Dutchman Botik van de Zandschalp (59th) 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. A break at the start of the match, another at the end of the second set, and four straight games after leading 2-0 in the third set saw the 22-year-old Italian win by just over two. hour and a half. “It was my first match of the season, I feel good physically, I’m in good shape. This is a tournament where I want to play as well as possible”, Announced a major outsider for the title.

Qualification was tougher for Andrey Rublev (5th) against eccentric Brazilian Thiago Seboth Wilde (78th). The latter pushed the Russian to his limit after 3h45 and a five-set battle 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (10). Pushed to a deciding super tie-break, Andrey Rublev was able to regain his composure, which had been severely tested, to close out the match.