Wear and tear. In the furnace of Melbourne, Adrian Mannarino got the better of Stan Wawrinka, 38 years old (6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0) in 3h36. Trailing two sets to one, the left-hander took the physical upper hand over the Swiss. Same scenario for the young French Luca van Assche, winner in five sets of the Australian James Duckworth (6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3) in 3 hours 36. The hope of 19 years old signs his first success in Melbourne. Hugo Gaston, for his part, is a lucky loser. The left-hander drafted from qualifying dominated Roberto Carballes Baena (6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4) to advance to the 2nd round. The Toulouse native signs his first success in Melbourne in three appearances. The 8th finalist of Roland-Garros 2020 will challenge Taylor Fritz in the 2nd round. It’s already over, however, for Benjamin Bonzi, logically beaten by Lorenzo Musetti (7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-2). No performance either for Constant Lestienne, dominated in three sets by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (6-4, 6-4, 7-6). Coming out of qualifying, Terence Altmane, 22, stole a set from double finalist Danill Medvedev, before being betrayed by his body and throwing in the towel. Victim of cramps, Altmane gave in (5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 1-0, ab).
Quickly done well done. French number two Varvara Gracheva slapped Belgian Yanina Wickmayer (6-2, 6-4). Less success for Fiona Ferro. Coming from qualifying, the native of Libramont surrendered against the American McCarney Kessler (3-6, 6-3, 6-2) with no less than 40 unforced errors…
Double finalist (2021, 2022), Daniil Medvedev suffered a little in the heat of Melbourne against the young Frenchman Terence Altmane. After letting the first set slip away, he resumed the flow of the match, before taking advantage of the withdrawal of the Frenchman, betrayed by his body and the cramps.
Stefanos Tsitsipas dropped a set against lucky loser Zizou Bergs, but did not tremble (5-7, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3). Inside during the first set, the 6 seed gained strength against the Belgian, a big fan of Zinédine Zidane, and enforced his rank.
Unusual scene. The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas went for a point on the opposing side to convert a break point at the start of the second set against Zizou Bergs. The lucky Belgian loser made a retro volley to respond to a passing from the Greek, but the former finalist from Melbourne put his arm over the net without touching it to score the point!
Outgoing quarter-finalist, Ben Shelton scalped Spaniard Roberto Bautista (6-2, 7-6, 7-5).
Coming from qualifications for the US Open, Jakub Mensik, 144th in the world, who reached the 3rd round of the last US Open, is a hope of 18 to follow. Finalist to a challenger, in Canberra, he is starting the 2024 season in the best possible way. The Czech tamed the returning Denis Shapovalov, 116th, in three pet sets.
The winner of the US Open 2023, Coco Gauff is in good shape. Confirmation. The American crushed the Slovak Karolina Schmiedlova (6-3, 6-0).
Marketa Vondrousova, winner of the last Wimbledon, was ghostly against the Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, outclassed (6-1, 6-2).
Gael Monfils is currently challenging Yannick Hanfmann. French number one Ugo Humbert is expected against ex-top 10 David Goffin, who came out of qualifying. Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka is back on the courts, after motherhood, and has the honor of the night session against French number one Caroline Garcia. A nice shock to follow from 11 a.m. Local Alex de Minaur also enters the fray to open the evening program on the Rod Laver Arena against veteran Milos Raonic.
Rod Laver Arena (from 9 a.m. in France) Alex De Minaur (AUS/N.10) – Milos Raonic (CAN) Caroline Garcia (FRA/N.16) – Naomi Osaka (JPN)
Ons Jabeur (TUN/N.6) – Yuliia Starodubtseva (UKR) Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN/N.27) – Dominic Thiem (AUT)
SEE ALSO – The first and magnificent goal of Timothy Weah, son of George, with Juventus against Salernitana on January 4 (6-1)
