Grigor Dimitrov defeats Andy Murray, Naomi Osaka defeats Tamara Korpatsch in first round of Brisbane International
Naomi Osaka has returned to tennis after a 15-month hiatus in style, with a straight sets win in the first round of the Brisbane International. Plus more results here.
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Big-hitting Bulgarian second seed Grigor Dimitrov battled not only a fast-starting Andy Murray but a slew of poorly strung racquets in his come-from-behind 4-6 7-5 6-2 win on Monday evening.
In a battle of former Brisbane International champions and rematch of the 2013 final, it was Dimitrov who powered to the finish after Murray shocked with a scintillating start to snatch the opening set.
Dimitrov – one of the favourites to win the tournament – was forced to swap his racquet multiple times throughout the match as his booming ground strokes continued to break the strings.
It ultimately mattered little, however, as Murray appeared to falter through the third set while Dimitrov worked his way into form.
The 2017 champion awaits the winner of Australian qualifier Li Tu and German Daniel Altmaier, who will play their first round match early on Tuesday.
OSAKA SETS UP MOUTHWATERING CLASH AFTER COMEBACK WIN
Any fears of a slow start for Naomi Osaka in her comeback from a 15-month lay-off were quickly quashed on New Year’s Day as she eased to a 6-3 7-6 (9) first round victory over Tamara Korpatsch at the Brisbane International.
The four-time Grand Slam winner took just under two hours to dispatch her German rival on centre court, brandishing the trademark powerful groundstrokes that took her to the top of the world prior to her sabbatical.
Osaka burst out of the blocks by breaking Korpatsch to love in the opening game and clinched the first set in just 38 minutes.
Korpatsch mounted a serious challenge in the second, taking Osaka to a tiebreaker and even served for the set.
But a “nervous” Osaka leant on her big game experience to come through in the clutch, serving the set out and announcing her triumphant return with a roar heard across the tennis world.
Her first win in 15 months sets up a mouth-watering second round match-up against reigning Brisbane International champion Karolina Pliskova.
The two-time Australian Open winner said the second set was an important test of her mettle and it was unrealistic to expect her to breeze through her first match after such a long time away from the game.
“Honestly I would prefer what I played,” Osaka said.
“I think maybe some of my decisions weren’t the best, but I think it’s better to have harder matches because it will train me for what’s to come.
“Looking back on the match now, honestly, I’m very proud of myself.
“I feel like I played at a pretty good level. I think my opponent played really well, as well.
“All I can think of is … the consistent nerves that I had. So just getting through that really tough match and hopefully building on it.”
Osaka last week conceded she almost walked away from the sport altogether after falling out of love with tennis, but declared she had rekindled that fire ahead of her long-awaited return to action.
Without the usual heady expectations on her shoulders, the former world No. 1 looked at home on Pat Rafter Arena.
Her first serve showed signs of rust but Osaka otherwise looked powerful, poised and – importantly – passionate about her tennis once again.
Unflustered by any unforced errors and almost exclusively seen with a smile, the Japanese superstar looked multiple shades happier than the player that very nearly retired while at the top of her game.
Sterner tests await in Brisbane and later this month in Melbourne, but the early running looked promising.
The familiar face of Pliskova now awaits in the second round.
The pair have enjoyed some enticing encounters in recent years, most notably a 2019 Australian Open semi-final which Osaka won in three sets en route to her first Grand Slam win Down Under.
But Pliskova – a three-time Brisbane International champion – boasts a superior 3-2 head-to-head record against her fellow former world No.1.
The two superstars last clashed in the semi-finals of the 2020 Brisbane International, which Pliskova won in yet another three-set thriller before going on to lift her third trophy in the Queensland capital.
“I think my next match will be a really good test … I’ve played her (Pliskova) a couple of times. She’s such a tough opponent,” Osaka said.
“She’s very different from the match that I played just now, so … very interested to see what happens.”
PURCELL PUSHES TOP SEED ALL THE WAY
The future is now for Mad Max Purcell after he took Brisbane International fans on a rollercoaster ride that nearly ended tournament top seed Holger Rune’s run at the very first hurdle.
The breakout Aussie star threatened to throw the men’s draw into chaos on Monday night when he blitzed world No. 8 Rune to clinch the opening set and send the home crowd into raptures.
World No. 45 Purcell, who this time last year was ranked outside the top-200 and preparing to play a Challengers event in Thailand, matched the tournament favourite blow for blow over an enthralling hour and a half that ended 4-6 6-4 6-2 in the top seed’s favour.
A second career top-10 win was well and truly on the cards when Purcell broke Rune twice to take an early lead in Brisbane.
He was brilliant as he traded baseline blows with his more fancied foe and the patented serve and volley game honed on the doubles court caused the Dane all sorts of problems.
But as the match wore on the unforced errors began to creep in, while Rune’s level rose.
Purcell was almost automatic on-serve in the first set but Rune found his rhythm in the return game and began bombing winners from all corners of the court.
The Danish sensation sensed the occasion and rose to meet his Aussie rival’s challenge, breaking Purcell early to claim the second and doing so again in the decider to seal the victory.
Still just 20 years old, Rune made his 2024 intentions crystal clear after surviving an early scare in his first match of the year.
“It was difficult, especially in the beginning … but it’s the first match of the season, first day of the season, so I just told myself to keep fighting and find solutions,” he said.
“My goal is to win Grand Slams. I’ve been working all my life for it and the goal is to do it this year.”
Rune will face Alexander Shevchenko in the second round later this week.
Fellow Aussie Rinky Hijikata had prophesised a possible Purcell boilover earlier in the day, when he told this masthead the top-50 was just a starting point for the rapidly rising Sydney native.
“Max had a cracking year last year and I think he’s what, top 50 at the moment? But he still has a ways to go – I think his ceiling is really high.”
Though Rune’s ceiling proved too great on Monday night, Purcell showed his 2023 victories over the likes of Casper Ruud, Stan Wawrinka and Felix Auger-Aliassime were not simply outliers but auguries of what is to come.
Earlier in the day American number three seed Ben Shelton was sent packing by big-serving Russian giant killer Roman Safiullin 6-3 6-7 6-3, while Naomi Osaka announced her comeback with a hard-fought straight-sets win over German Tamara Korpatsch.
Play was suspended on the outside courts for much of Monday after storm clouds settled over Brisbane in the afternoon.
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