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Australian Open 2018, day one at Melbourne Park

IT TOOK barely ten minutes before Nick Kyrgios caught the attention of the chair umpire after blowing up at a fan.

Tyson Otto and Alex Blair
18 min read
January 15, 2018 - 11:37PM
He’s back.
He’s back.

Live Australian Open 2018

The opening day of the 2018 Australian Open saw Americans drop like flies and Aussies soar.

NICK Kyrgios carried over his form from the Brisbane International to blast his way into the second round after defeating Rogerio Dutra Silva in straight sets at Hisense Arena.

The Aussie found himself in hot water with the chair umpire early in the piece after blowing up at noisy fans interrupting his serve. He copped a warning but the brief scolding didn’t unnerve him as he careered to the 6-1 6-2 6-4 win.

Aussie Daria Gavrilova also found her way into the top 64 after sending American Irina Falconi packing 6-1 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena — but the same couldn’t be said for veteran women’s star Sam Stosur. The former US Open champ dropped out in the first round after failing to capitalise on a match point opportunity against Monica Puig. Stosur fell 4-6 7-6 6-4 and barrelled out of Melbourne Park before the second round for the second year running.

Men’s World No. 1 Rafael Nadal was at his absolute best on centre court later in the night, dropping just three games as he dismantled Dominican Burgos Estrella 6-1 6-1 6-1 to advance into the second round.

ROD LAVER ARENA

7-Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) defeated Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 6-1 6-4

Belinda Bencic (SUI) defeated 5-Venus Williams (USA) 6-3 7-5

3-Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) defeated Dennis Novak (AUT) 6-3 6-2 6-1

1-Rafael Nadal (ESP) defeated Burgos Estrella (DOM) 6-1 6-1 6-1

23-Daria Gavrilova (AUS) defeated Irina Falconi (USA) 6-1 6-1

MARGARET COURT ARENA

Shuai Zhang (CHN) defeated 13-Sloane Stephens (USA) 2-6 7-6 6-2

Matthew Ebden (AUS) defeated 16-John Isner (USA) 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-3

Monica Puig (PUR) defeated Samantha Stosur (AUS) 4-6 7-6 6-4

2-Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) defeated Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) 6-2 6-3

Kevin King v 15-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 6-4 6-4 6-1

HISENSE ARENA

12-Julia Goerges (GER) defeated Sofai Kenin (USA) 6-4 6-4

Timea Babos (HUN) defeated 10-CoCo Vandeweghe (USA) 7-6 6-2

6-Marin Cilic (CRO) defeated Yen-Hsun (TPE) 6-2 6-2 4-6 7-6

17-Nick Kyrgios (AUS) defeated Rogerio Dutra Silva (BRA) 6-1 6-2 6-4

10:46pm

Teen completes five set epic

Teenage Norwegian star Casper Ruud defeated Quentin Halys in a marathon five setter on Court 12, advancing through to the second round.

Fans sat through the four hour and 16 minute clash as the youngsters duked it out for a spot in the Open’s top 64.

Halys dropped the first set 6-3 but fought back in the second and third to put his opponent on the back foot. Ruud kicked back into gear, sealing the fourth 7-5 before fans were treated to a 83-minute final set, which ended in the 19-year-old taking the match with a 11-9 win in the final frame.

Meanwhile Australian Open favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advanced through to the second round with a straight-sets victory over Kevin King on Margaret Court Arena.

10pm

Dasha seals a win, Lucas Pouille knocked out

Dasha was on fire.
Dasha was on fire.

Daria Gavrilova shut out Irina Falconi in straight sets at Rod Laver Arena as the American completed a horror day for the USA at the Australian Open.

The 23-year-old dropped only two games as she ran through the US star 6-1 6-1.

As the Aussie breezed into the second round, an Open upset was transpiring on Court 7.

18th seeded Lucas Pouille fell to Ruben Bemelmans in an surprising loss lasting four sets. The Frenchman could only manage a single set over the 30-year-old as he dropped to a 6-4 6-4 6-7 7-6 loss.

The upset came after World No. 9 Jack Sock was embarrassed by Yuichi Sugita 6-1 7-6 5-7 6-3 as the American star failed to capitalise on his towering height advantage and dropped countless winning point opportunities.

8:51pm

Nadal destroys Estrella

Rafael Nadal made a strong statement at Rod Laver Arena as he soared home to his first win of the tournament. The 2009 Melbourne Park champion belted Burgos Estrella around the court and took a comfortable 6-1 6-1 6-1 victory over the 37-year-old.

Aussie Daria Gavrilova began her match with Irina Falconi soon after as the American prepared to defend her nation’s pride after a day one bloodbath saw US stars drop like flies.

Gavrilova had an early break over her opponent and eventually took the first set 6-1.

8:35pm

Kyrgios closes out clinical win

Polarising Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios set Hisense Arena alight as he downed Brazilian contender Rogerio Dutra Silva in straight sets 6-1 6-2 6-4.

The 22-year-old made his older opponent work for every point as he worked him around the court for the entirety of their 90 minute clash.

“I was very nervous come out here first match of the Australian Open and I obviously want to play well for you guys,” Kyrgios told Roger Rasheed after the match. “I don’t think that I played as well as I was playing in Brisbane right now. Hopefully I can continue to improve and find my feet out here.”

8pm

Nick takes the second

Nothing looked like stopping Nick Kyrgios as he raced through the second set of his first round clash against Rogerio Dutra Silva.

After taking the first set with ease, the explosive 22-year-old put his foot down and sent his opponent packing in the second, claiming two quick breaks over the Brazilian as he took the set 6-2.

7:20pm

Kyrgios cops early warning

Don’t interrupt his serve.
Don’t interrupt his serve.

New year, same Nick Kyrgios.

It took the Aussie firebrand less than a set for his trademark temper to get the better of him as he told members of the crowd to “shut the f*** up” because they were heckling him while he served during the fifth game.

He was immediately slapped with a code violation, but all that did was put the umpire in Kyrgios’s bad books too. In a lengthy exchange at the change of ends, the 22-year-old confronted the man in the chair, accusing him of failing to do his job.

The umpire could barely get a word in as Kyrgios regularly spoke over the top of him, saying he should have done more to set the crowd straight earlier in the match. He also got angry when the official asked who the heckler was, saying he wouldn’t need to worry about who was at fault if he’d been firmer with the Hisense Arena crowd at the start of the match.

“Who cares who it was,” Kyrgios told the umpire. “It’s your responsibility to tell the crowd not to speak while I serve. Why didn’t you do it?

“If you did it the first time then why didn’t you do it the second time? Correct?”

Kyrgios put the incident behind him to cruise through the set, claiming it 6-1.

The Aussie star’s supreme striking on day one caught the eye of tennis legend Jim Courier.

Courier questioned talk of Kyrgios’ serve being his strongest asset and identified a more potent weaopn in the 22-year-old’s arsenal.

“For me the very best shot is his two-handed backhand because it’s so simple. It’s hard to read,” he said. “His backhand return is right up there with anyone in the game.”

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal has taken his first set 6-1 against Burgos Estrella at Rod Laver Arena.

— with James Matthey at Melbourne Park

6:30pm

Stosur does it again

For a moment it looked like Sam Stosur was going to blast Monica Puig in straight-sets as the Aussie found herself at match point in the second set tiebreak — but her Puerto Rican rival had other ideas.

Puig fought off the pressure moment and forced Stosur into a forehand error to take the second 6-7 (8-6). And it was all downhill for the Aussie from there.

Puig broke Stosur’s serve early in the third and was simply too good as she took the match 4-6 7-6 6-4.

It was the second time in a row Stosur, a grand slam champion, dropped out of her home Open in the first round.

5:16pm

‘Horrific’: Star’s nightmare Open start

Today has not been a good day for US tennis fans.

American star Jack Sock began his Open campaign in the worst way possible after losing the first set to Yuichi Sugita 6-1.

The 25-year-old hit zero winners and had 19 unforced errors in the opening set as the Japanese star broke his serve at will.

He fought back in the second set with five aces but fell victim to Sugita as his opponent won in the tiebreak (7-4).

The World No. 9’s nightmare start followed a “pathetic” display in Auckland leading up to the Australian Open. The towering American is at threat of losing his $100,000 appearance fee at the ASB Classic after video evidence suggested he was not giving 100 per cent in his second round loss against Peter Gojowczyk.

The USA has endured a tough day on the court with eight of their top stars eliminated in the first round.

5pm

Stosur takes the first set

Sam Stosur fought to a solid 6-4 win in the first set against Puerto Rican rival Monica Puig. The former US Open winner broke her opponent late in opening frame and displayed a strong service game with 88 per cent of her serves hitting their mark.

The Puerto Rican fought back in the second set, taking the Aussie to break point in the fourth game — but Stosur wasn’t letting the 24-year-old off that easy. She fought back and claimed the game before breaking Puig’s serve a second time.

3.50pm

Matt Ebden gets huge result

Aussie Matt Ebden has taken out American No. 16 seed John Isner in one of the biggest results of his career.

Isner’s elimination is the latest blow in a horror opening day for Americans at Melbourne Park.

Ebden recovered after dropping the second set to run away with the match 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-3 and defeat a top 20-ranked player for the first time in a grand slam event.

In one of his best performances the 30-year-old hit 38 winners and 13 unforced errors.

Most impressively, he frustrated one of the best serves in men’s tennis and broke Isner’s serve four times.

It was Ebden’s first win in the main draw of the Australian Open since 2014.

It was also his first win in a grand slam main draw since Wimbledon in 2015.

He has never made it through to the third round of the Australian Open.

He will play Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov in the second round.

3pm

Venus bundled out in American horror story

Gone.
Gone.

2017 finalist Venus Williams has made a shock first-round exit after losing 6-3 7-5 to Swiss star Belind Bencic.

The No. 5 seed was on the wrong end of two marathon sets as she was eventually eliminated in a 113 minute battle.

Williams served to stay in the match at 5-4 down in the second set, but lost her serve when again serving to stay in the tournament down 6-5 in the second set.

Williams is one of many American stars to be eliminated on day one of the tournament.

Five other Americans also lost on the first morning of the tournament.

Sloane Stephens lost 2-6 7-6 6-2 to Shuai Zhang.

Sofia Kenin lost 6-4 6-4 to No. 12 seed Julia Goerges.

Taylor Townsend lost 6-0 7-5 to Magdalena Rybarikova.

Alison Riske lost 2-6 7-6 6-3 to Belgian Kirsten Flipkens.

Coco Vandeweghe lost 7-6 6-2 to Timea Babos.

2.40pm

Loco Coco’s bizarre banana outburst, point penalty

American No. 10 seed Coco Vandeweghe was issued with a code violation after refusing to play because no bananas were available for her to eat on Hisense Arena.

After losing the first set, Vandeweghe remained in her seat when opponent Timea Babos had already returned to the court and argued with chair umpire Fergus Murphy that she should be allowed more time during the short break because tournament officials had failed to provide players with bananas.

How are they not on court? I mean, c’mon that’s not my fault,” she said during the argument.

“Why do I have to play under a different set of rules. I don’t have to make myself uncomfortable because it’s ill prepared.

“I have needs and it’s not my fault that this court is ill prepared.”

Bananas were eventually brought out to her, but too much time had elapsed for the American to eat the banana before she was ordered back onto the court by Murphy.

“So you want me to screw up routine because of an ill prepared court? That’s not fair,” she said.

“I don’t understand why you’re being so rude about it. I’m being very cool.

“Now they’re here. Do you mind if I have a bite?”

When she was knocked back, Vandeweghe did it any way and was hit with a code violation for delaying the game.

In the second set she was hit with a full point penalty for appearing to curse in the direction of her opponent.

She eventually lost 7-6 6-2.

2.30pm

Kubler falls after brave comeback

Spanish 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta has rallied to deny local wildcard Jason Kubler his first victory at a major on day one of the Australian Open.

The match was evenly poised when rain halted play early for half an hour in the third set.

Carreno Busta claimed a tight third set and then powered away to win 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-1 in three hours and 31 minutes.

World No. 243 Kubler dropped all four of his service games in the final set. The Australian’s only previous outing at his home major came as a 16-year-old wildcard in 2010, when he was ousted in the opening round by Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, now coach of Roger Federer.

In the intervening years, Kubler — a former junior world No.1 ranked junior — suffered a string of serious knee injuries.

He was one of nine Australians in action on day one of the Open.

— AAP

2pm

Players clash in feisty confrontation

Dudi Sela and Ryan Harrison getting stuck in.
Dudi Sela and Ryan Harrison getting stuck in.

American Ryan Harrison has sensationally accused Israel’s Dudi Sela of lying about a controversial call during their first round match on Court 22.

According to reports, Harrison challenged Sela over the Israeli’s declaration a ball did not touch him as it was on its way sailing long over the baseline.

Harrison complained to the chair umpire over the incident, but Sela was awarded the point in the first set.

Between the controversial call and the heavily pro-Sela crowd on the outside court, Harrison eventually lost his cool during a change of ends in the second set.

Channel 7 cameras showed the pair in a heated exchange which resulted in the American getting booed by the crowd.

Channel 7 reported the clash in front of the umpires chair was the result of Harrison complaining about the behaviour of the crowd.

Sela recovered after dropping the first set to lead 3-6 7-5 6-3 heading into the fourth set.

However, Harrison recovered to take the fourth set 7-5 and force the match into a deciding fifth set.

1.30pm

Play halted for rain delay

A passing shower has stopped play at Melbourne Park.

The first round match between Venus Williams and Belinda Bencic was also halted to allow officials the chance to close the Rod Laver Arena roof.

Williams had her serve broken in the final game before the delay and trailed 4-3 in the first set.

1.15pm

Stephens bundled out in dramatic choke

Sloane Stephens capitulated.
Sloane Stephens capitulated.

Reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens has sensationally been knocked out of the Aussie Open — after serving for the match in the second set.

The curious case of the American star’s rankings plummet after winning the 2017 US Open got even stranger on Monday when her losing streak stretched to eight consecutive losses.

She has not won a match since winning her first grand slam in New York last year.

Stephens served for the match at 5-4 in the second set, but was broken.

From then on China’s Shuai Zhang seized control of the match to run away with a 2-6 7-6 6-2 victory.

The No. 13 seed became the first seed to be eliminated at this year’s Open.

Zhang raced through the final set in 32 minutes. She will play either Czech player Denisa Allertova or France’s Pauline Parmentier in the second round.

12.45pm

‘Bad batch’ ball dramas

Sloane Stephens pulled up in the middle of her match with China’s Shuai Zhang to complain to the chair umpire about the quality of the tennis balls used on Margaret Court Arena.

Stephens told umpire Carlos Ramos the balls were behaving erratically.

Ramos had to instruct the ball girls and boys not top use the batch of balls that had a green dot on them.

Channel 7 commentator Rennae Stubbs said: “They got a bad batch”.

“That is interesting, it started with one flat ball and now they are recalling all them.”

She said it appears the balls with the green dot may have been the ones designed to be used during non-tournament related matches and presentations inside the venue.

It turned out to be a fateful pause in play. From that moment on Stephens went on to drop the second set 7-6 after taking the first 6-2.

12.35pm

Ostapenko cruises to second round

French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko cruised past veteran Francesca Schiavone in the first match on Rod Laver Arena.

Ostapenko had to recover after going down a break of serve in the second set, but eventually triumphed 6-1 6-4 in 74 minutes.

She goes on to play Ying-Ying Duan in the second round after the Chinese star defeated Colombia’s Mariana Duque-Marino 6-0 6-1.

Schiavone was spotted wearing a back brace during her match, but did not appear to be playing with any noticeable discomfort.

11am

Tennis stunned by Djokovic pay demand

Bomb dropped.
Bomb dropped.

Novak Djokovic has reportedly shocked fellow superstars of tennis after hijacking a players meeting in Melbourne to demand a dramatic pay rise for players on the ATP Tour.

According to a report, Djokovic’s demands caught many stars of the game completely unawares when they met in the conference centre of a Melbourne hotel on Friday ahead of the Australian Open.

The scheduled meeting went off the rails when Djokovic walked up onto the stage and demanded all non-players in the room leave so he could speak to only current players on the Tour.

The Daily Mail reports the Serbian superstar then spoke passionately in demanding a series of dramatic prize money increases across the ATP Tour.

It comes after Aussie Open tournament director Craig Tiley revealed the total prize money for the 2018 Australian Open has risen to $55 million this year, including $4 million paydays for the winners of the men’s and women’s singles draws.

The Open announced it is a 10 per cent increase on the 2017 total prize money purse.

First round losers now receive $60,000 just for showing up to Melbourne Park.

The Mail reports Tiley told players at the same ATP gathering on Friday that the Australian Open total prize money purse will in the next six years rise to a whopping $100 million.

However, that wasn’t enough to satisfy Djokovic.

The 30-year-old reportedly stunned the assembled group of around 150 professional tennis players by advocating a breakaway players union as a separate entity to the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

He wants the proposed players union to strong-arm the ATP into granting the players a dramatic pay rise.

After kicking out tennis personalities, including Aussie coach Roger Rasheed, Djokovic presented his plan to breakaway from the ATP and even organised for an Australian lawyer to present the legal technicalities the players would need to be aware of if they chose to establish their own union.

The Daily Mail reports several players have already publicly endorsed Djokovic’s bombshell, including world No. 4 Alexander Zverev.

Critically, however, 19-time grand slam champion Roger Federer has reportedly declared he does not support Djokovic’s plan.

The breaking story is seen as a public relations black eye for the sport on the eve of the richest ever Australian Open.

The ATP Tour lists Djokovic's career prize money as $US109,805,403 heading into the Aussie Open.

It comes after reports a growing number of players on the ATP Tour believe equal pay with players on the women’s WTA Tour is holding them back from increasing their own prize money.

10.05am

Tennis legend’s awesome hand-written Federer letters

Aussie tennis legend Ken Rosewall writes Roger Federer a letter every year, The Australian has revealed.

In a story published Monday, Rosewall said he hand writes a note to Federer every year and delivers it in person to the doorman at the entrance to the players’ locker room at Melbourne Park.

The 19-time grand slam champion says he doesn’t want to bother Federer in person, but likes to write to the Swiss ace to wish him good luck at the start of every year.

He also thanks Federer for being one of the greatest ambassadors tennis has ever seen.

“I just write a simple half-page,” Rosewall said.

“He’s admired by millions of people, including me. He’s been winning major championships for a long time. Now he’s 36 and still doing it. Now he’s still carrying himself the way he does. He’s done an amazing thing for tennis. He deserves his recognition. He deserves his popularity. He’s been a gentleman.

“If he does go on to win another Australian, well, I’ll be pretty happy for him.”

9.45am

AFL superstar’s simple plan to save Tomic

GEELONG superstar Patrick Dangerfield says a public relations campaign is essential to Bernard Tomic pulling himself out of the downwards spiral that has pushed his career to the brink.

Dangerfield told SEN Breakfast Tomic’s public image in Australia needs major surgery — but said it would not be difficult for the troubled 25-year-old to rescue his public image.

He just has to want to do it.

It comes after Tomic failed to qualify for the Australian Open on Sunday and told reporters at Melbourne Park, “I just count money, that’s all I do”.

“Being in the media, you like comments like that because it gives you something to talk about, but someone in Bernard’s management has to sit him down and have a chat,” Dangerfield said.

“It wouldn’t be hard to turn around the entire Australian public perception of him.

“Change his behaviour. Use social media, go and play tennis with some fans, I think we saw Sam Kerr a few weeks ago, she went out and had a kick of the soccer ball out the front of her house with a few of the locals, and she is already well loved.

“Imagine if Bernard Tomic did something like that with a few of his legion of fans. It would change the perception very quickly.

“We don’t love brats in Australia, do we?”

9.15am

Tomic slammed on international stage

Bernard Tomic’s career has gone into free fall.
Bernard Tomic’s career has gone into free fall.

American tennis great Andy Roddick has torn strips off Bernard Tomic on the opening morning of the 2018 Australian Open — saying the troubled Aussie star got exactly what he deserved.

Roddick took to Twitter to declare Tomic’s troubles are all self inflicted and that he has only himself to blame for his ratings plummet which has cast his future into doubt.

The Aussie star on Sunday failed to qualify for the Australian Open after falling 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 to Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

Clearly drained after the taxing loss, Tomic sarcastically adopted his media persona when asked where he’d go from the loss.

“I just count money, that’s all I do. I count my millions,” he said.

“You go do what I did. You go make 13-14 million. Good luck guys. Bye bye.”

Tomic is at a career crossroads.

Roddick said he felt no sympathy for Tomic’s fractured career.

9am

Andy Murray is still all class

Andy Murray pulled out of the Australian Open to undergo hip surgery, but the former World No. 1 will be watching on with interest.

8.50am

Kokkinakis and Wawrinka practice together

Australian Open practice schedule for day one of the Open.
Australian Open practice schedule for day one of the Open.

Stan Wawrinka and Thanasi Kokkinakis make an interesting practice pairing out at practice court 11 on Monday.

While there have never been any reports of beef between the two tennis stars, both were caught up in Nick Kyrgios’ unforgettable, “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend” comment in 2015.

8.45am

Gavrilova honoured with Rod Laver Arena pressure

Fittingly, after dazzling fans as the last local standing for the past two years, Daria Gavrilova will be the first home hope to hit Rod Laver Arena at the 2018 Australian Open.

After storming to the last 16 in 2016 and 2017, Gavrilova is relishing the chance to play under the bright lights once more against American qualifier Irina Falconi on Monday night.

“I was a bit surprised but I’m really excited. I really can’t wait,” said the 23-year-old ball of energy.

Gavrilova is seeded 23rd, in form after reaching the semi-finals in Sydney last week and in the mood to embark on another run to the second week in her home town of Melbourne.

She hopes to once again feed off the buzz of the crowd in her bold attempt to follow in the footsteps of 2017 grand slam gate crashers Jelena Ostapenko and Sloane Stephens and join the growing club of first-time major winners in an exciting new era of women’s tennis.

“I think everyone is feeling this way. Everyone is feeling like: ‘Okay, we’ve all got a chance’. I definitely feel like I also have a chance. I’ll just compete very hard every match,” Gavrilova said, insisting she’s feel no pressure at her home slam.

“I don’t even know what pressure is really. Like, I don’t know what that the word is.

“Okay, yeah, I’m nervous and excited, but I don’t know what that word means really.” Gavrilova is among nine Australians in action on day one.

Nick Kyrgios is also in prime-time play, the 17th seed up against Brazil’s world No.100 Rogerio Dutra Silva at Hisense Arena, the people’s court he so loves.

“I’ve played a lot of matches and won a lot of matches on that court,” said the 2015 quarter-finalist and newly crowned Brisbane International champion. “Obviously that match in the fourth round against (Andreas) Seppi when I made it to the quarter-finals, ever since then I’ve kind of tried to make that memory happen again.

“I definitely feel comfortable on Hisense Arena.”

— AAP

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