Tennis News

After much speculation ensued over the past week regarding world No. 1 and former champion Novak Djokovic’s preparedness for the Australian Open following his illness earlier in the month, the Serb silenced all doubters when he eased into the second round of the Australian Open. Djokovic will next meet Andrey Kuznetsov, whom he has never encountered previously, to determine who will advance to the next stage of the event.

The top seed cruised into the second round with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Aljaz Bedene, but only after a surprisingly slow start to the match. The Serb struck eight aces, won 83% of his first service points and 29 winners to close out the match in just over 90 minutes of court time. He did, however, hit a astonishing amount of unforced errors (27), which may indicate that he is yet to find his form.

“Australian Open has been very dear to me. My most successful Grand Slam. I’ve been playing some of my best tennis throughout career on these courts. Trying to soak up every joyful moment on the court. Obviously the start was a bit slower performance, weaker performance, from my side. He had a couple of breakpoints. The match could have gone a different way in the first set. Never played him. Watched him only once. He did surprise me. I had a difficult time to read his serve.”

Djokovic added that he feels he has recovered from the illness that plagued him earlier in the month.

“It hasn’t been an ideal couple of weeks in terms of health and preparation. But, you know, I fighted my way through. Now it’s behind me. I’m only looking forward. I think I did well in terms of responding to the slow start today, feeling a little bit rusty on the court. So hopefully the next one will be even better.”

Djokovic will next come up against Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov, who needed four sets to oust Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas. He struck 8 aces, won 74% of his first service points and hit 8 winners to close out the match 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3).

This marks the first time that these two competitors cross paths on the professional tour and will likely be another straightforward encounter for Djokovic, who appears to have shaken off the flu.

Prediction: Novak Djokovic in Straight Sets

In her first professional match of the season, word No. 1 Serena Williams cruised into the second round of the Australian Open with relative ease. After worrying fans with her bizarre performances at the Hopman Cup, Williams was able to rebound and advance to the next stage of the tournament, where she will come up against Russia’s Vera Zvonareva, a player she has contested frequent matches with for over a decade – including the final of the Wimbledon Championships in 2010. Williams leads the head-to-head series 7-3.

Watch the match live here: Serena Williams v Zvonareva Stream

The top seed cruised to the second round of the Australian Open with minimal resistance from Alison Van Uytvanck. Williams, who won the match 6-0, 6-4, struck 11 aces, won 86% of her first service points and hit 21 winners to close out the match in 61 minutes of court time.

“I felt okay,” Williams explained after the match. “As always, I had the jitters going out in the first match of a Grand Slam. So, yeah, it’s never super easy to be the one that everyone wants to beat. So I always have to be a little bit above. But, yeah, I felt okay. I definitely think I can improve a tremendous amount.

The American will now come up against Vera Zvonareva, who defeated Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 6-2, 6-3 to arrive at the intriguing encounter. She hit 3 aces, won 81% of her first service points and 6 winners to finish the match in 1 hour and 3 minutes.

This will mark the 11th time that Williams and Zvonareva cross paths on the professional tour, with Williams leading the series 7-3. The American has won four of their five most recent matches dating back to the 2007 US Open, and will likely add to that record with another win in their fourth Grand Slam encounter.

Prediction: Serena Williams in Straight Sets

Canadian No. 1 Milos Raonic kicked off his Australian Open campaign – his first ranked inside the Top 10 – with a straight sets victory and will now look to add to his quest and reach the third round with a victory over America’s Donald Young. This marks the third time that these two competitors will meet on the professional tour with Raonic leading the Head to Head series 2-0.

Watch the match live here: Raonic v Young

Raonic, who was up against Illya Marchenko in his opening match in Melbourne, managed to cement his place in the second round with a straight sets win against the Ukrainian. He defeated Illya 7-6(3), 7-6(3), 6-3, hitting 30 aces, 91% of his first service points and 48 winners in the process.

“It was what I needed it to be, especially with how well I served, I probably should have stepped up and taken a few more risks on the return games. I felt at some points I got a little monotone with my game and I sort of stooped into a not-so-effective game plan especially on the return side. Other than that, it was what I needed it to be for a first round.”

The Canadian will come up against Donald Young, who eased into the second round with a four-set win against Germany’s Tim Puetz. The American hit 7 aces, won 80% of his first service points and 7 winners to close out the match in 2 hours and 13 minutes.

“I know Donald because I’m a year younger than him,” said Raonic. “He was sort of the poster boy of the way everybody sort of wanted their junior career to go. I knew him from that sense. I remember, I think it was Junior Davis Cup at the time, Key Biscayne, I was playing under-14, I would go over to watch him play against Bester and Polansky. I definitely followed because there were a lot of tags and labels on him. I definitely was aware of sort of what happened, then what he sort of went through. There’s always been a big spotlight on him.”

This marks the third time that these two competitors will meet on the professional tour with Raonic leading the series 2-0. Both wins took place last season – the first at in the Washington semi-finals and the second in Basel. Young was able to snatch a set off Raonic in their most recent encounter and is more than capable of making this another tough match for the in-form Raonic.

Prediction: Milos Raonic in Four Sets

After an awkward start to the season, Kei Nishikori kicked off his first Grand Slam event since reaching the final of the US Open last August and advanced to the second round of the tournament with relative ease. He will now come up against Ivan Dodig, whom he has encountered on four previous occasions. Nishikori leads the head-to-head series 3-1.

Watch the match live here: Nishikori v Dodig Stream

The Japanese No. 1 took part in a strong opening round match-up against a sturdy challenger in Nicolas Almagro. He defeated the Spaniard in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-2 to close out the match in 2 hours and 7 minutes. Nishikori withstood 15 aces from Almagro, won 74% of his first service points and hit 30 winners to secure his spot in the second round of the Happy Slam.

“Obviously was really tough, tough first match. He could be seeded player, and I know he was injured, but still was tough match. Yeah, was a little bit windy, so we both didn’t play maybe 100%. But I was getting more balls, especially third set, and I was play much better third set.”

Soon afterwards, Ivan Dodig earned his ticket into the second round of the Australian Open with a straight sets victory over Brazil’s Joao Souza. During the 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory, Dodig hit 10 aces, won 71% of his first service points and 27 winners to close out the match in 2 hours and 54 minutes.

This marks the fifth time that Nishikori and Dodig cross paths on the professional tour, with the Japanese star leading the series 3-1. His lone loss took place in Basel two years ago and has since gone 2-0 against the Croat. Although this could prove to be a grueling encounter, Nishikori should come out of it relatively unscathed.

Prediction: Kei Nishikori in Four Sets

Defending champion Stan Wawrinka began his quest to defend his maiden crown on Tuesday afternoon in Melbourne and wasted minimal energy in victory. Next for the Swiss star is a contest against Marius Copil, whom he has never met on the tour prior to this upcoming encounter.

Follow the match here: Wawrinka v Copil Live

In his match against Tunisia’s Marsel Ilhan, Wawrinka needed less than 90 minutes to secure his spot in the second round in comfortable fashion. Wawrinka hit 8 aces, won 82% of his first service points and struck 34 winners to close out the match 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in 1 hour and 28 minutes.

“First Grand Slam never easy, but happy the way I played today. I feel great to come in the court. I play some good tennis and I have confidence with my game in general. That’s what I did today. It was not so hot. A little bit humid, a little bit windy. But, yeah, it was a good match.

“You need to be focused on every match, every point. Today I think was great. Good start for me winning in three sets and playing some good tennis.”

Marius Copil also needed straight sets to advance to the third round of the Australian Open on Tuesday. He defeated Spain’s Pablo Andujar 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 to finish the match in 2 hours and 4 minutes. Copil hit 18 aces, 18 winners and won 70% of his first service points to set up his encounter with the defending champion.

This is set to be the first ever encounter between Wawrinka and Copil and is unlikely to be a troublesome affair for the Swiss No. 2. Given the gaps in each of their skill sets, Wawrinka will undoubtedly have the advantage to reach the fourth round of the tournament.

Prediction: Stan Wawrinka in Straight Sets