Day 2 of the Australian Open saw defending champion Jannik Sinner begin his title defense with a hard-fought straight-sets victory over Nicolas Jarry, while other top contenders like Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff also advanced, The Associated Press reports.
The tournament, however, has been overshadowed by pre-tournament doping speculation surrounding both Sinner and Swiatek.
Sinner, ranked number one, overcame a spirited challenge from Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, winning 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5), 6-1. The Italian star, fresh off a 2023 title run that included a semi-final victory over Novak Djokovic, admitted the match was tough, particularly the first two sets which went to tiebreaks.
This victory extends Sinner’s winning streak to 15 matches on both the tour and on hard courts at Grand Slams. He also expressed satisfaction with the crowd support at Rod Laver Arena, where he became a fan favorite last year.
Shortly after Sinner’s match, Poland’s Iga Swiatek, also facing doping scrutiny before the tournament, started her campaign with a confident 6-3, 6-4 win over doubles world number one Katerina Siniakova on John Cain Arena. This win saw the five-time major champion avoid a shock upset against a player who is known for her tennis ability and experience.
In the day’s first marquee match on Rod Laver Arena, Coco Gauff, the third seed and reigning U.S. Open champion, showcased her dominance despite a slow start. After dropping an early service game, Gauff quickly recovered to defeat 2020 champion Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-3. Gauff admitted the sun presented a challenge.
She is sporting a striking Marvel-inspired outfit at Melbourne Park and appears confident and composed, building on her successful end to last year’s season that included a win over Swiatek at the WTA Finals. She also helped the US secure victory at the United Cup last week, also beating Swiatek in the final.
While the top seeds had largely smooth starts, there were upsets. In a stunning upset, American Alex Michelsen, aged 20, defeated last year’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Michelsen, who had never beaten a top 20 player in a grand slam before, relied on powerful returning and composure under pressure.
Other notable results included a five-set victory for Frances Tiafoe, and advancement for Jessica Pegula, Diana Shnaider, Elina Svitolina, and Belinda Bencic. Lucia Bronzetti of Italy also caused an upset, eliminating two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.
Gauff’s victory extends her winning streak to 33 matches against players outside the Top 50, dating back to a loss to Kenin at Wimbledon 2023. For Kenin, the loss marks her third straight year facing a Grand Slam champion in the first round in Australia, resulting in her fourth consecutive first-round exit here. Gauff will face Jodie Burrage in the next round.
