There were contrasting fortunes for two Russians in the first round of the Australian Open with Andrey Rublev crashing out in straight sets to João Fonseca while Daniil Medvedev smashed a net camera in an angry outburst during his five-set win over the lowly ranked wildcard Kasidit Samrej.
Brazilian Fonseca began his grand slam career in spectacular fashion as the qualifier took down the ninth seed 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (5). Fonseca’s first main-draw match at a slam had been eagerly anticipated and the 18-year-old lived up to the hype with a stunning straight sets win in front of a captivated late-night crowd on Margaret Court Arena.
He clinched the opening set with one of the many thundering forehand winners he struck, and raised his level even further to cruise through the second set. Rublev dug deep in the third set and was a break ahead but Fonseca showed incredible poise and maturity at critical moments to set up another tie-break. Showing no nerves, he ended the contest at the first opportunity by pounding a forehand beyond his Russian opponent, his 51st winner of the match.
Medvedev, the fifth seed, reached the final for the third time at Melbourne Park 12 months ago but arrived late in Australia after the birth of his second child and was in deep trouble against the world No 418 from Thailand. When Samrej won the third set to go two sets to one up, Medvedev repeatedly smacked his racket against the middle of the net, destroying a camera attached there.
But, like the American teenager Nishesh Basavareddy, who led Novak Djokovic on Monday, the 23-year-old Samrej began to struggle physically and Medvedev fought back to win the first-round match 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
“I know I play better when I play more tennis,” the Russian said with a rueful smile. “Why play one hour 30? Minimum three hours. Second and third set, I couldn’t touch the ball. Full power, everything in. I didn’t know what to do. If he plays like this every match, his life can be good. Money, girls, casino.”
Samrej earned his wildcard by winning the Asia-Pacific wildcard playoff, while he warmed up for his grand slam debut by training with Djokovic in Thailand last month. Medvedev struggled during the second half of last season but he hopes the newest member of his family will help inspire a change in fortunes.
“It only gives me good energy,” he said. “In the end of last year, this match, I probably would have lost it. New year, new energy, at least for now. I’m happy to have won this match.”
Holger Rune also needed five sets to make it past China’s Zhang Zhizhen, while in another match that went the distance Gaël Monfils won the battle of the Frenchmen against his young compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Mpetshi Perricard is one of the hottest young prospects on tour and he sent down by some distance the fastest serve of the tournament so far at 144.2mph. But the 38-year-old Monfils, who became the oldest winner of an ATP Tour singles title last weekend in Auckland, triumphed 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4.
“I don’t really look up my age,” Monfils said. “It is just a number. Then I try to avoid to think about it, but I can tell you that tomorrow morning I will be more 48 than 38.”
Taylor Fritz, the fourth seed, had a much easier time of it, breezing past his fellow American Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-0, 6-3.
