Australian Open Day 1 women’s wrap: Maria Sharapova’s grunting distracts Aussies on outside court

Andrea Petkovic has blamed a flu and searing temperatures for her on-court collapse at the Australian Open, while Maria Sharapova distracted with new levels of grunting.

Maria Sharapova was in hot form during her opening match. Picture: Michael Klein

ANDREA Petkovic has blamed a flu and Melbourne’s searing temperatures for her on-court collapse at the Australian Open.

The German was forced to retire at 7-6 (3) 3-4 in her first-round clash with Irina-Camelia Begu after she was felled mid-point amid shocking scenes on Court 5.

She required medical attention and had her blood pressure read on court before she made the call, and later said that her “weak” body had simply caved to the conditions.

DAY ONE: ALL THE NEWS, SCORES, RESULTS FROM THE AUS OPEN

CRYSTAL BALL: EXPERTS PREDICT MEN’S, WOMEN’S CHAMPION

WOMEN’S CONTENDERS: CAN ANYONE STOP SERENA’S QUEST FOR 24?

“It was heat-related. I had the flu last week,” Petkovic said on Monday night.

“Probably my body was just weak and it was more just to exhaustion and the temperature.

“But I was cleared by the doctor (to play), I felt fine today, maybe a little weak … I couldn’t work as hard this last week as I wanted to.

“But generally I felt fine and then I felt a little bit in the beginning of the second set my coordination was going off a little bit ... with dehydration and the heat, I just hit the wall.”

Andrea Petkovic is escorted from the court after retiring. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The 31-year-old said she was undoubtedly disappointed but said she still considered the match to be a “victory” after days of soul-searching amid her illness.

“(It’s disappointing) especially if you look at not only … it doesn’t matter, but the score was in my favour,” Petkovic said.

“Everything was equal. Honestly, for me, it was a victory today over my own demons, because I was really complaining the last few days and (asking) ‘why me? Why did I have to get sick?’, and all of these things.

“Today I was really tough and really trying my best as much as I could and I literally left it all out on there and tried my best for as long as I could.

“Unfortunately I hit the wall at one point but I was really proud of myself that I battled through some adversity in the past days.”

Maria Sharapova makes some noise. (AAP Image/David Crosling)

SHARAPOVA TAKES GRUNTING TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL

Maria Sharapova is everywhere at the Australian Open … and we mean literally everywhere.

As she was racing to a 6-0 6-0 win on Rod Laver Arena, the Russian was also making her presence felt on court seven where Aussies Astra Sharma and Priscilla Hon were going toe-to-toe.

Directly behind their court is a giant screen, which was showing the Sharapova match. The only problem was the sound was up too high.

And, as we know with Sharapova matches, there is no escaping the grunting.

As The Australian noted, the volume was proving distracting for the players, who were forced to deal with Sharapova’s noise while they were trying to serve.

Does anyone have a remote?

Sharapova and her grunt could go deep into the tournament after emerging as a wildcard contender for the title after her red-hot opening round form.

Maria Sharapova was in hot form during her opening match. Picture: Michael Klein

It’s early of course — the first game of day one — but the 31-year-old Russian looks focused and in form.

Her calculated mauling of young Brit Harriet Dart was eye catching.

It was 6-0, 6-0 in just over an hour.

“I love what I do, I love competing but I always love challenging myself to get better, as you said the youngsters are coming up and they are eventually taking our place, not just yet,” she said.

“You want to give them a little more time. I love the work. You have to have a really positive vision in this sport. You can have a lot of let-downs, tough moments.”

Does anyone else feel uneasy watching sharapova with her very loud grunting or is it just me

— Iancobden (@ian_cobdenAFC) January 14, 2019

Sharapova and her grunting yeeeezus seriously it’s a slice bh how much umph do u need for that shot? At least they r keeping the clocks on serves. #AustralianOpen2019

— steve mitchell (@hardballNgolfin) January 14, 2019

I’m 30 seconds into #Sharapova’s first match at the #AusOpen2019 and I already can’t deal with her grunting #AustralianOpen

— annie❤あにー (@amatts71) January 14, 2019

KERBER RUNS INTO ROUND 2

Second seed Angelique Kerber brushed past Slovenia’s Polona Hercog 6-2, 6-2 to power into the Australian Open second round Monday.

The Wimbledon champion produced a clinical display to launch her campaign at Melbourne Park, where she won the title in 2016.

The gulf in class between Kerber, a three-time Grand Slam winner, and world number 92 Hercog was apparent as the German took an early break then rattled past her opponent in 72 minutes.

Kerber maintained constant pressure to snuff out any challenge from Hercog, saying she felt energised returning to Rod Laver Arena, where she won her first major three years ago.

“Every time I walk on this court I have great memories and such a special feeling, I really enjoy playing here,” she said.

Angelique Kerber is through to the second round. Picture: Getty Images

SLOANE: ‘GET IT TOGETHER’

Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens needed to tell herself to “get it together” before ending her Australian Open hoodoo and advancing to the second round.

The fifth seed has endured a horror run at Melbourne Park since reaching the semi-final in 2013.

The 25-year-old exited in the first round in 2015, 2016 and 2018, and also missed 2017 with a foot injury.

There were also questions about the 2017 US Open winner’s form coming into the tournament after poor performances this month at warm-ups in Brisbane and Sydney.

But she looked comfortable in seeing off 93rd ranked fellow American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-2, growing in confidence as the match wore on.

She said she hoped to emulate her appearance in the last four six years ago. “It’s been a tough couple of years here, but I do love this tournament. It’s always tough the first Slam of the year kind of getting going,” she said.

“I had a good result here once before, so I think I’m going to try to do it again.”

Originally published as Australian Open Day 1 women’s wrap: Maria Sharapova’s grunting distracts Aussies on outside court