Djokovic was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual winner Jannik Sinner last year.
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It goes easily for Carlos Alcaraz
The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz did not hang around for his entry into the Australian Open tennis tournament: the world No.3 beat the Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko (ATP 77) 6-1, 7-5, 6- 1 in 1 hour and 54 minutes.
Expeditious in the first set, won in less than half an hour, Alcaraz had to work hard in the second, during which he lost his serve twice and was trailing 3-5. He then showed himself to be uncompromising in the third, but still had to wait for his fifth match point to conclude the game.
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tournament still missing from Alcaraz’s record. The 21-year-old Spaniard is a double title holder at Wimbledon and also won Roland-Garros last year as well as the US Open in 2022. The quarter-finals, reached last year, constitute his best result in Melbourne .
In the second round, Alcaraz will meet the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka (AYP 65), winner 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 of the Tunisian Aziz Dougaz (ATP 231), from the qualifications.
Iga Swiatek joins the 2nd round
Second player in the world, Iga Swiatek qualified on Monday in Melbourne for the second round of the Australian Open thanks to a victory in straight sets against the Czech Katerina Siniakova, world No.1 in doubles and 50th in singles. The Pole won 6-3, 6-4 in 1h20.
The five-time Grand Slam winner joins in the 2nd round her Belarusian rivals Aryna Sabalenka (1st), qualified on Sunday, and American Coco Gauff (WTA 3), who validated her ticket on Monday against Sofia Kenin (WTA 74), winner of the Australian Open in 2020, with a 6-3 doubles. She was also able to return to the locker room after 1 hour and 20 minutes of play.
Swiatek will challenge the Slovak Rebecca Sramkova (49th), who defeated the American Katie Volynets (60th) on Monday with a score of 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Winner of four Roland-Garros and one US Open, Swiatek reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2022 but was eliminated in the 3rd round in 2024.
The five-time Grand Slam winner joins in the 2nd round her Belarusian rivals Aryna Sabalenka (WTA 1), qualified on Sunday, and American Coco Gauff (WTA 3), who validated her ticket on Monday against Sofia Kenin (WTA 74), winner of the ‘Australian Open in 2020, on a doubles 6-3.
Semi-finalist last year, Gauff will challenge Briton Jodie Burrage (WTA 173).
