MELBOURNE, Australia — Zheng Qinwen‘s tennis résumé is sort of completely different from what it was when she confirmed up on the Australian Open a full yr in the past. Irrespective of all the pieces she achieved in 2024 — a runner-up end at Melbourne Park, an Olympic gold medal for China — she felt jitters earlier than coming into Rod Laver Enviornment on Sunday.
After overcoming some hiccups late within the opening set of her first-round match on a stormy Day 1 on the season’s first main tennis event, Zheng got here by way of with a 7-6 (3), 6-1 victory in opposition to Anca Todoni, a 20-year-old qualifier from Romania who has gained one Grand Slam match in her profession.
“Really, I really feel actually nervous,” stated Zheng, who’s seeded No. 5. “I began to really feel nervous already since yesterday, ‘trigger I felt particular emotion for the Australian Open. … I actually prefer it right here.”
As properly she ought to.
It was 12 months in the past on Melbourne’s onerous courts that Zheng made all of it the best way to the ultimate earlier than shedding to Aryna Sabalenka. The 2-time champion started her bid for a 3rd consecutive title with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 2017 US Open title winner Sloane Stephens.
Alexander Zverev, the lads’s No. 2 seed, defeated Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 within the final match at Rod Laver Enviornment.
Two of the primary three males’s contests to conclude each went 5 units. Kei Nishikori, the 2014 US Open runner-up, saved a pair of match factors within the third set and got here all the best way again to beat qualifier Thiago Monteiro 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3, whereas No. 6 Casper Ruud, a three-time finalist at majors, defeated Jaume Munar 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
Nishikori, competing in Melbourne for the primary time in 4 years after a collection of hip, ankle and knee accidents, raised his arms and threw his head again, inflicting his black hat to fall off, after enhancing to 29-8 in five-setters, together with 8-1 on the Australian Open.
Earlier than her run in Australia final January, Zheng had performed in eight main tournaments, making one quarterfinal. Her big-hitting breakthrough opened a season through which she wound up with a gold draped round her neck on the Paris Video games in August.
The 22-year-old Zheng’s power-based recreation is finest suited to onerous courts, and enjoying indoors does not harm both, so she ultimately was fairly snug in opposition to Todoni beneath a closed retractable roof, whereas thunder and lightning and a severe downpour suspended motion on the courts that may’t be coated.
Nonetheless, Zheng frittered away set factors whereas serving for the opener at 5-4 then was pressured to avoid wasting set factors for Todoni later. Afterward, Zheng stated being nervous often makes her focus higher, however this time, it did not make “me play my finest tennis on the market.”
Possibly that is as a result of it was her first match of the season. Nonetheless, she was ok on today.
The second set was extra one-sided, and Todoni took a medical timeout for remedy on her decrease again after three video games.
Zheng was amongst solely a handful of gamers capable of full matches within the early going at what’s now a 15-day event since a Sunday begin was instituted final yr. That further time, which spreads out the primary spherical throughout three days, might be significantly useful this week, as Monday’s packed program already included matches for Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek.
No. 29 Linda Noskova was the primary seeded participant to exit the bracket, only a yr after she shocked Swiatek in Melbourne. Noskova misplaced 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 to Clara Tauson, whereas seeds who gained Sunday included No. 11 Paula Badosa, No. 14 Mirra Andreeva, No. 18 Donna Vekic and No. 30 Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open runner-up.
“To have the ability to play a match and to complete a match with a roof, it is rather more simple than … to cease with the rain,” stated the Twentieth-seeded man, Arthur Fils, who eradicated Otto Virtanen of Finland 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-4. “So, yeah, it is a good remedy.”
Hady Habib‘s history-making run on the Australian Open will proceed as the primary man to characterize Lebanon in a Grand Slam singles event within the Open period grew to become the primary to win a match, defeating Bu Yunchaokete of China 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (6) in entrance of a loud group of supporters.
“That is most likely among the finest days of my profession, actually. It is such an unimaginable feeling to get this win — not just for myself however for Lebanon and Lebanese tennis,” stated the 26-year-old Habib, who’s ranked outdoors the highest 200 on the ATP Tour. “As you guys may see there, the gang was completely wild. It made it much more particular to win in entrance of them. … I felt the vitality on the market.”