The third day of the Australian Open delivered its verdict. In the expected duel of generations between Gaël Monfils (38 years old) and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (21 years old), it was the first who emerged victorious in five sets. The only Frenchwoman entered this Wednesday in the women's draw, Varvara Gracheva won and will be the only Tricolor in the second round. Among the favorites, Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev had all the difficulty in the world to qualify.
Monfils wins the duel of generations, Mannarino out from the start
The Franco-French duel kept all its promises. The eldest Gaël Monfils defeated his younger brother Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, after a fight lasting almost 4 hours (3h46), in five sets (7-6 [7]6-3, 6-7 [6]6-7 [5]6-4), where three tie-breaks were necessary to validate his ticket for the second round. At the age of 38, “la Monf” continues its good start to the year, scoring a sixth consecutive victory, after its title in Auckland three days ago. He will meet the winner of the match between the Argentinian Francisco Comesaña and the German Daniel Altmaier.
He couldn't do anything. Frenchman Adrian Mannarino (75th at ATP) lost to Russian Karen Khachanov (19th) in three sets 7-6 [5]6-3, 6-3. A year after reaching the round of 16 in Melbourne, the left-hander held up well in the first round before letting the outcome of this match slip away against the semi-finalist of the tournament in 2023.
Varvara Gracheva saves the honor of French women
She was the last Habs to play her first round. She will be the last to represent France in the women's draw. Tuesday, on court number 5, Varvara Gracheva did not hang around. It took her less than an hour and a half (1h23) to dispose of her opponent, the American Caty McNally (304th, but who benefited from a protected ranking), in two sets 6-3, 6-4.
-The 69th player in the world, and French number 3, avoids equalizing a sad record: the one where no French woman had managed to qualify for the second round of the Australian Open in 1985, the worst result in a Grand Slam for the country.
Rune and Medvedev in contention, Fritz and Rybakina calm
Among the favorites, several were very scared and could have taken the front door like Stefanos Tsitsipas the day before. Holger Rune (13th in the world), victorious in five sets over the Chinese Zhizen Zhang, 49th in the world (4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4), and Daniil Medvedev (5th) against the Thai Kasidit Samrej, 418th in the world and beneficiary of an invitation (6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2) had very hot but ended up winning. It was quieter for the No. 4 seeds: Taylor Fritz against her compatriot Jenson Brooksby (6-2, 6-0, 6-3), as well as for Elena Rybakina against the 16-year-old Emerson Jones ( 6-1, 6-1).
