As it happened Australian Open 2023: Nick Kyrgios withdraws from competition; Rafael Nadal beats Jack Draper, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas in action on day one

Australian Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the Australian Open.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios announces his withdrawal from the Australian Open with a knee injury at a press conference in Melbourne.Credit: AP

An MRI showed a small tear in Kyrgios’s meniscus after the 27-year-old experienced discomfort in his knee, Marc McGowan reported.

“I’m extremely disappointed,” the top-ranked Australian player said.

“I’m devastated. This is my home tournament and obviously winning the tournament in doubles and playing the best tennis of my life probably. All I can do is my best to come back.”

Kyrgios was due to play at 7pm AEDT tomorrow in his first round match against Roman Safiullin. He was also planning to defend his doubles title alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis, starting on Wednesday.

Physiotherapist Will Maher said Kyrgios’s team used the charity match against Novak Djokovic on Friday to test out the injured knee and Kyrgios “didn’t pull up great”.

That’s it for day one of the Australian Open, which was full of mixed emotion for the local crowds.

Australian showman Nick Kygrios, the nation’s best hope for glory, withdrew from the tournament in the late afternoon due to a knee injury that wouldn’t allow him to play at his best.

Hours after he took to the practice courts at Melbourne Park with close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis, the tennis star’s camp called an impromptu press conference to deliver the news. It left the Open almost empty of big Australian stars.

However, four Aussie wildcards won their first round matches and are through to the second round, including Olivia Gadecki, John Millman, Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata.

Gadecki defeated Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova – sister of top-10 star Veronika Kudermetova – 7-5, 6-1 for her first win in the main draw of a grand slam, while Millman clinched a hard-fought five set victory over Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler.

Kubler progressed to the second round of his home grand slam for the first time - after an injury-riddled career including six knee operations - and Hijikata, ranked 169 in the world, beat German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann.

Meanwhile, top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal remains in poll position, despite dropping a set to 21-year-old Jack Draper, from the UK. And last year’s runner up, Daniil Medvedev, delivered a polished win against American Marcos Giron in straight sets late.

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek also kept her match to straight sets, but pressure from German Jule Niemeier made her fight from behind in the second set.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, seven Australians will take to the courts for their first round matches and men’s singles title favourite Novak Djokovic will start his AO campaign.

From 11am, Australian men’s players including Jordan Thompson, Christopher O’Connell, Max Purcell, wild card Alexei Popyrin and Australian women’s player Jaimee Fourlis will be on court.

And from 4pm, Australian Aleksandar Vukic will be on the show court two, while Alex de Minaur will make his Open debut on John Cain Arena from 7pm against Yu Hsiou Hsu of Taiwan.

De Minaur is considered Australia’s next-best hope after Kyrgios’ exit because of a knee injury.

Novak Djokovic kicks off a bid to further his record nine Australian Open titles at Rod Laver Arena tonight. He meets Roberto Carballes Baena, of Spain, in the first round.

See you tomorrow and thanks for tuning in for a big day of tennis, folks!

Seventh seed and world No.8 Daniil Medvedev has cruised through to the second round after defeating USA’s Marcos Giron in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in one hour and 36 minutes.

The Russian said post-win he was really happy with the match and credited Giron for being a tough competitor.

Daniil MedvedevCredit: AP

He added that last year he enjoyed what were “crazy matches”, including against Australian Nick Kyrgios, but he’s hoping to leave Melbourne Park after going one better following his runner-up finish to Rafael Nadal.

“Great memories but definitely want to have better ones this year,” he said.

Medvedev will next take on Australian John Millman in the second round.

Medvedev v Giron 6-0, 6-1, 6-2

Daniil Medvedev has won the first two sets against Marcos Giron 6-0, 6-1.

The Russian is breezing through the first round despite some long rallies, including one that went for 20 shots in the opening set, and 30 in the second.

Daniil MedvedevCredit: AP

Medvedev v Giron 6-0, 6-1

Meanwhile, 17th seed Lorenzo Musetti is out in five against South African Lloyd Harris.

Anna Blinkova has taken Madison Keys to a decider on Margaret Court Arena.

It’s been a bit of a topsy-turvy game so far.

Keys won the first set, only to falter in the second as Blinkova hit back. Neither has really set the court alight, despite moments of brilliance.

Keys v Blinkova 6-4, 3-6

After 37 minutes, world No.8 Daniil Medvedev has won the opening set against American Marcos Giron 6-0.

The longest rally in the set went for 20 shots.

Daniil MedvedevCredit: AP

The Russian star has sent down another ace to hold 1-0 to open the second set.

Medvedev v Giron 6-0

One of the highlights of being at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open is being able to get up close and personal with the players.

And it’s not all about centre court action – here’s Julie Ferguson and her son, Jack, watching Daniil Medvedev train earlier in the day.

Medvedev is currently taking on American Marcos Giron on Rod Laver Arena.

Medvedev supporters Julie Ferguson and son Jack at Medvedev training session on day 1 of Australian Open.Credit: Eddie Jam for The Age

Daniil Medvedev supporters Julie Ferguson and her son Jack.Credit: Eddie Jim for The Age

Felix Auger-Aliassime has won his first round match after fellow Canadian Vasek Pospisil proved a contest for the world No.7.

Felix Auger-Aliassime is through in five sets.Credit: Getty

“He’s a good friend, he’s a great teammate, we recently had some amazing memories together winning the Davis Cup just two months ago,” Auger-Aliassime said on the court after the win.

“On my part it was a bit of a struggle, but it’s OK, it’s the first round … he gave me a hard time.”

Pospisil won the first set 6-1, and Auger-Aliassime clinched the next two sets 6-7, 6-7 after they went to tiebreaks.

Auger-Aliassime took a 3-6 lead in the final set, defeating Pospisil in 3 hours and 58 minutes.

Auger-Aliassime v Pospisil 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3

Madison Keys has sealed the first set 6-4 against Anna Blinkova.

The No.10 seed got off to a wobbly start, but seemed to find her feet just as Blinkova upped her error count.

Madison Keys finds her stride.Credit: AP

World No.1 Iga Swiatek credited reigning Australian Open champion Ash Barty as motivating her to improve after her first-round win over German Jule Niemeier.

“Last year when I lost to her in Adelaide, I was like ‘I have to do everything to learn how to get back this slice and cope with the change of rhythm’,” said Swiatek post-win.

Iga Swiatek fought her way to a scrappy win.Credit: Getty Images

“For the next few months, I was really, really motivated. I’m really grateful for that. I know she didn’t do anything to make it happen. Her tennis is amazing and she really pushed us to our limits and she still kind of won easily.

“She’s just a huge inspiration and the way she behaves, she’s so classy.”

Swiatek had some wobbles early on but fought back on Rod Laver Arena to claim the win 6-4, 7-5, and advance to the second round.

Not such great news out on court 3, where Australian Storm Hunter has crashed out.

She’s fallen to China’s Xinyu Wang in straight sets.

Xinyu Wang bt Storm Hunter 7-6 (7-2), 6-4