Australian Open day 2 men’s wrap: Alexander Zverev pledges winner’s cheque to bushfire appeal
Seventh seed Alexander Zverev vowed to donate his prize money to bushfire relief if he picks up the Australian Open winner’s cheque. DAY TWO MEN’S WRAP
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Alexander Zverev vowed to donate his prize money to bushfire relief if he picks up the Australian Open’s $4.12 million winner’s cheque after he swept into the second round Tuesday.
The German seventh seed had a miserable build-up to the opening Grand Slam of the year, crashing spectacularly in all three of his singles matches at the ATP Cup teams event, looking lost on court.
But he has regained some swagger after a week out of the spotlight and eased past the 77th-ranked Italian Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena.
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Zverev played in the ‘Rally for Relief’ fundraiser ahead of the opening Major of the year, and said he had been touched by the disaster that has devastated huge swathes of the country.
“I will donate $10,000 for every match I win,” he said after his opening round victory.
“I know I’m not the favourite, but if I win (the tournament) I will donate every cent to the bushfires.”
Cecchinato came into the match on a seven-match Grand Slam losing streak since defeating Novak Djokovic in the French Open quarter-finals in 2018.
JUST DON’T MENTION GOAT DEBATE
Rafael Nadal has no interest in fuelling GOAT – greatest of all-time – debates.
The mighty Spaniard is already cloaked with the glories of 19 majors and if he is unable to add to his 12 French, four US Open, two Wimbledon and one Australian title, then so be it.
The world No.1 is more interested in the immediate pursuit of excellence, reconciled to the fact the numbers will take care of themselves.
“If I am able to reach my highest level, that’s the thing that I have to worry about,” he said after trouncing Bolivian Hugo Dellien 6-2 6-3 6-0 in the first round of the Australian Open.
“If I am able to play at my highest level, normally I am able to produce some good chances. If not, impossible.
“So I don’t care about 20 or 15 or 16 (titles).
“I just care about try to keep going, keep enjoying my tennis career.
“Is not like 20 is the number that I need to reach.
“If I reach 20, fantastic. If I reach 21, better. If I reach 19, super happy about all the things that I did in my tennis career, no?
“I am very satisfied about my tennis career because I give it all most of the time.
“That’s only thing that matters.
“I don’t think in the future being achieving 21 grand slams, for example, I’m going to be happier than if I am 19 in 10 years.
“But only thing I can do is put all my efforts on try to keep going the best way possible. The rest of the things, the future will see.”
The 2009 champion would join Rod Laver and Roy Emerson as the only male players to win every major at least twice if he claims a second Australian crown.
NO HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM MEDVEDEV
- AAP
Towering fourth seed Daniil Medvedev navigated a challenging first-round clash against last year’s quarter-finalist Frances Tiafoe to kickstart his Australian Open campaign.
Made aware that he might have spoiled Tiafoe’s birthday on Monday by sending him home, Medvedev was unrepentant.
“His birthday was Monday, we played Tuesday. I think it’s ok.”
The talented 23-year-old, who won four titles last year and was runner-up at the US Open, ultimately showed his class to outlast the American 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.
It was a tough workout for the in-form Medvedev, who began his year strongly at the ATP Cup, winning four of his five singles matches, and is gunning for a maiden Grand Slam title.
“It was a really tough first match, it was up and down for both of us. A first round is never easy, especially against someone like Frances,” said the towering Russian.
“There were many moments where I felt I had momentum, but he straightaway came back.
“I think I could do many things better, but it is a big win and I’m happy to be through.”
It was always going to be a difficult assignment against Tiafoe, who was looking to repeat his glory run at the Australian Open last year.
SINNER’S FED-LIKE RESPONSE TO ROGER’S PRAISE
—Michael Randall
Superstar Roger Federer’s praise for “super sweet kid” Jannik Sinner hasn’t fallen on deaf ears.
But the 18-year-old rising star, who made light work of Aussie qualifier Max Purcell, 7-6(7-2) 6-2 6-4, to book a spot in round 2, won’t be letting the praise go to his head.
“What I like about him (Sinner) is he’s almost got the same speed of shot on forehand and backhand,” Federer said after his straight sets win over Steve Johnson.
“Back in the day … you go to the backhand, you know it’s going to come back slower, go to the forehand and it will come back faster.
“With Jannik I don’t feel there’s such a thing.
“He has great footwork for a big guy.
“I think we’ll see so much more from him.
“He’s an exciting guy and a super sweet kid.”
A flattered Sinner took the praise on board, but was professional in his response.
“Yeah, I heard about it, that he said that,” Sinner said after his win over Purcell.
“Yes, we are working on every shot. Because I’m young, forehand and backhand are quite solid. The shot is getting better and better, which is our goal.
”What he said is, I mean, it’s nice for me.
“But, you know, we still have to work.”
Sinner will face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in the second round, who yesterday upset another young gun in Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
2018 FINALIST LOOMS AGAIN
—AAP
Former finalist Marin Cilic remains the most dangerous floater in the Australian Open draw after winning his first-round clash in a canter.
Runner-up to Roger Federer two years ago, Cilic blitzed past Frenchman Corentin Moutet 6-3 6-2 6-4 in an hour and 46 minutes on Tuesday.
The giant Croatian smashed 34 winners, dropping just one service game on his way to a dominant victory.
Cilic is unseeded at Melbourne Park after slipping outside the top 30 and next plays temperamental Frenchman Benoit Paire after the 21st seed outlasted Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-0.
The 2014 US Open champion is on a potential third-round collision course with Roberto Bautista Agut, who firmed as a tournament dark horse after securing a seventh straight victory.
Bautista Agut, unbeaten in six matches during Spain’s run to the ATP Cup final, continued his winning ways, beating countryman Feliciano Lopez 6-2 6-2 7-5. The ninth seed, a quarter-finalist in Melbourne last year, had to wait overnight to claim victory as heavy rain suspended the clash at 1-2 in the second set. Another compatriot may await him in the second round, with Bautista Agut to face either Spain’s Pablo Andujar or American wildcard Michael Mmoh. Canadian Milos Raonic also had little trouble closing out his rain-delayed encounter over lucky loser Lorenzo Giustino 6-2 6-1 6-3.
Raonic, who lost to Andy Murray in the 2016 Wimbledon final, is staring at a likely third-round clash with last year’s breakout semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas but will first confront Chile’s Christian Garin or Italian Stefano Travaglia.
Elsewhere, diminutive Argentinian 14th seed Diego Schwartzman cruised past South African Lloyd Harris a 6-4 6-2 6-2 win over, while Italian teen sensation Jannik Sinner outgunned Australian qualifier Max Purcell 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-4. Fiery Italian 12th seed Fabio Fognini survived a scare to progress 3-6 6-7 (7-3) 6-4 6-3 7-6 (10-5) over big-serving American Reilly Opelka.
Polish 31st seed Hubert Hurkacz also fought back from two sets down, beating Austrian qualifier Dennis Novak 6-7 (7-4) 1-6 6-2 6-3 6-4.