The opening of the Australian Open was disrupted by rain this Sunday. The Russian, the French and the Japanese qualified for the 2e tour.
The weather: storm and rain disrupt the first day
“In typical Melbourne style, what started as a light drizzle at the Australian Open, is now pouring rain. Ponchos and umbrellas are omnipresent and play has been suspended on the outdoor courts”reports The Age. Only an hour after the start of the first matches, the games were interrupted on the annex courts. Only matches scheduled on the three main courts (Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, John Cain Arena) were able to continue.
The number: 1
The first victory for Mirra Andreeva. The No. 14 seed, this Sunday, defeated the Czech Marie Bouzkova (6-3, 6-3) to qualify for the 2nd round of the Australian Open and sign the first victory of the event . In the 2nd round, the young Russian (1 ace; 27 winning points; 6 break points converted out of 10) will face the Japanese Moyuka Uchijima or the Polish Magda Linette.
The point:
Signed by Arthur Son. The French No. 2 had a mixed start. After losing the first set, he was broken at 4-4 in the 2e set, before stealing his rival’s serve to equalize at 5-5 and take control of the match. On match point, the Frenchman, after a powerful outside serve, continues with a well-delivered deep forehand and concludes with a furious volley to validate his qualification for 2e round 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 6-4 against the Finn Otto Virtanen. “On paper it should have been an easy match. In the end, I found myself doing four sets, it wasn’t that easy. The best thing to do was stay super calm, do my best and see what happens. It’s clear that two years ago, I probably would have lost this match.”summarized Fils after signing the first French victory of the 2025 Australian Open.e In turn, he will face the Australian Adam Walton or Quentin Halys.
The chase
Kei Nishikori, for his third Grand Slam tournament in three years, suffered, suffered for a long time against the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro, from qualifying. The Japanese (35 years old; 74e world) saved two match points at 5-4 at 3e set, before seeing the match turn around following the physical discomfort in the right thigh encountered by the Brazilian, from qualifying, to win the 29th (out of 35) match of his career in 5 sets. Winner 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 in 4h5, he climbs to 2e tour of the Australian Open (for the first time since 2019) and Tommy Paul (n°12) or the Australian Christopher O’Connell.
The return
Surprise finalist of the 2024 edition (beaten by the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka), the Chinese Qinwen Zheng (seeded n°5) returned to the Rod Laver Arena and dominated the Romanian Anca Todoni (qualified) 7-6 (7/3 ), 6-1, after dismissing 3 set points in the first set. She then assured about a status that has changed over the past year: “The pressure became stronger and stronger. But at the same time, it pushes me to become a better person and a better athlete. I think I handle pressure well. I like to play with pressure. As Billie Jean King says, pressure is a privilege. I love this sentence. Let’s continue to move forward and play with pressure. »
Cold sweats
Casper Ruud struggled. The Norwegian (seeded No. 6) ended up getting rid of the Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 in 3h21. At 2e In turn, the Norwegian will face the Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili or the Czech Jakub Mensik.
The novelty
Coaches have courtside screens inside the boxes which will display data and statistics in real time. Craig Tiley, director of the Australian Open, explained in The Age: “When the players come to get their towels, the coaches can talk to them and so can almost, in fact, coach their player after every point if they want to.”.
The sentence:
“Imagine Messi becoming Cristiano Ronaldo’s coach.” When Daniil Medvedev comments on the new Novak Djojovic-Andy Murray association: “The impact Andy will have on Novak is difficult to assess. What’s difficult about coaching Novak is that he’s so strong, that if he starts winning, people will say, ‘Is it because of Andy or is it because ‘is Novak?” I think it’s a great collaboration in all areas, energy, media and communication, the growth of tennis… It’s great. Imagine if Messi became Cristiano Ronaldo’s coach…”
L’image
Blow for blow. In an astonishing choreography. Jannik Sinner (No. 1) and Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3) shared the same training session, the same court and the same half of the field. Rare.
The big gap
21 years separate the Brazilian João Fonseca (18 years old, youngest player in the tournament) from Stan Wawrinka (39 years old), the oldest.
The video
The ad, full of punch, speed and strength, signed Nike for Aryna Sabalenka (who in 2018 was flashed serving at 214 km/h). The world No. 1, double title holder who will try to join Martina Hingis, the last player to have won three times in a row in Melbourne, launches her tournament against Sloane Stephens.
To be continued: Pouille challenges Zverev
Forced to abandon at 3e tour of Wimbledon, Lucas Pouille who had failed to qualify for the big draw at the US Open, finds a Grand Slam, in Melbourne. Having an invitation, the Northerner (104e ; 30 years old) sees Alexander Zverev, one of the tournament favorites, stand against him.
Next, from 9 am, on the Rod Laver Arena: Aryna Sabalenka (Blr, 1)-Sloane Stephens (EU); Lucas Pouille (Fra)-Alexander Zverev (All, 2) ; Jiri Lehecka (Rtc, 24)-Li Tu (Aus) ; Anna Blinkova (Russia)-Daria Saville (Aus).
