Day two was a very good day for British hopes, with Andy Murray, Dan Evans and Heather Watson all joining Emma Raducanu in winning their first-round matches.A decent day for the hosts, too, with Alex De Minaur and Nick Kyrgios progressing as wild card Sam Stosur rolled back the years.
Elsewhere, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Félix Auger-Aliassime and Andrey Rublev all won, while Aryna Sabalenka fought back to avoid a shock against Storm Sanders. A couple of big names did fall in the women’s draw, with Petra Kvitova and Angelique Kerber both losing.
Let’s take a look at the show court schedule for Wednesday, with Ash Barty, Rafa Nadal, Naomi Osaka and Sascha Zverev all in action.
Rod Laver Arena (from 12am GMT/11am local) (Q, It) M Trevisan v P Badosa (8, Sp) (1, Aus) A Barty v L Bronzetti (Q, It) (Q, Ger) Y Hanfmann v R Nadal (6, Sp) Night session (from 8am GMT/7pm local) (US) M Brengle v N Osaka (13, Jpn) (3, Ger) A Zverev v J Millman (Aus)
Margaret Court Arena (12am GMT/7pm local) (Fr) H Tan v E Svitolina (15, Ukr) (Kor) Kwon S v D Shapovalov (14, Can) (4, Cz) B Krejcikova v Wang X (WC, Chn) Night session (from 8am GMT/7pm local) (Q, Chn) Zheng Q v M Sakkari (5, Gre) (17, Fr) G Monfils v A Bublik (Kaz)
Day two was a very good day for British hopes, with Andy Murray, Dan Evans and Heather Watson all joining Emma Raducanu in winning their first-round matches.A decent day for the hosts, too, with Alex De Minaur and Nick Kyrgios progressing as wild card Sam Stosur rolled back the years.
Elsewhere, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Félix Auger-Aliassime and Andrey Rublev all won, while Aryna Sabalenka fought back to avoid a shock against Storm Sanders. A couple of big names did fall in the women’s draw, with Petra Kvitova and Angelique Kerber both losing.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has booked his place in the second round, making light work of a tricky opponent in Mikael Ymer. He wins 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 and will play 21-year-old Sebastian Baez of Argentina in the second round.
Raducanu looked a little emotional during that interview, and after winning match point – I think getting through that match will mean a lot to her. It would have been easy to fold when Stephens found her game in the second set, but she fought back and passed a test she didn’t face at the US Open – winning a deciding set. Let’s not forget – this was her debut at the Australian Open.
Emma Raducanu: “I just want to thank everyone for coming out and staying so late, I really appreciate it! I thought it was a high-quality match, with lots of great rallies. I’m really happy to come through against a great champion like Sloane.”
“It was a tough match up for a first round, her athleticism is really up there – I was working really hard to win points. I’m just so happy to come through it. In the third set, I was really feeling it – the scoreline didn’t really reflect the game.”
First set: Stephens 0-6, 6-2, 1-6 Raducanu A poor Stephens return, and a scorching inside-out backhand winner put Raducanu 30-0 up. The finish line is in sight, and an unreturned first serve brings up three match points.
Then, an untimely moth-based interruption and a double fault, the second serve just catching the net cord. Stephens hangs in there with some terrific groundstrokes, and it’s 40-30. Another gruelling rally ensues – but Raducanu wins it with a crafty, cross-court drop shot that Stephens can’t return!
Britain’s Emma Raducanu reacts. Photograph: Brandon Malone/AFP/Getty Images
First set: Stephens 0-6, 6-2, 1-5* Raducanu (*denotes next server) Some of Raducanu’s defensive shots has been excellent, digging out lost causes and making Stephens play one more shot – which has been enough plenty of times. Raducanu amuses herself with a wild attempt at a cross-court winner, and Stephens finds the line with a winner. The American dodges the double (filled?) bagel – now can she trouble Raducanu on serve?
First set: Stephens 0-6, 6-2, *0-5 Raducanu (*denotes next server) This has been ... an odd match so far. But Raducanu deserves credit for holding firm when Stephens looked to be taking charge. That feels a long time ago now: Stephens looks weary, shoulders down and not getting her footwork right on a couple of points.
At 40-0, a Stephens winner and a double fault crank the pressure up a touch. Raducanu tries to clip the line after a long rally, but it slips wide. Deuce, then unforced error, ferocious winner, unforced error, cross-court fizzer from the mercurial Stephens.
Next, a nervy Raducanu second serve is belted back – but she somehow recovers the ball, and Stephens misses the volley at the net! Raducanu holds, and is 5-0 up in what has felt like a pretty even set.
First set: Stephens 0-6, 6-2, 0-4* Raducanu (*denotes next server) Stephens responds well to a net-cord bounce to edge ahead, but Raducanu moves in on serve to boss the next point. Stephens nets – her 34th unforced error to Raducanu’s 25 – but dominates the next rally, winning with a cross-court volley. An awkward Stephens forehand finds the top of the net, and Raducanu gets the double break with another attacking return!
Emma Raducanu of Britain plays a forehand return. Photograph: Tertius Pickard/AP
The winner of this match will face Danka Kovinic, the world No 99, in the second round. Get through that, and it’ll probably be Simona Halep in the third round.
First set: Stephens 0-6, 6-2, *0-3 Raducanu (*denotes next server) The pattern so far: Raducanu won the first six games, then Stephens won two, Raducanu two, Stephens four, and now Raducanu two and counting.
At 15-15, second serve, Raducanu chases down a fierce return and gets enough on it. Another big moment, followed up with a dead-straight winner down the line. She gets the hold, waiting patiently for Stephens to slip up in the next rally, and Raducanu is back on top in this match.
First set: Stephens 0-6, 6-2, 0-2* Raducanu (*denotes next server) That felt like a big hold, Raducanu releasing some frustration with a shout to her coaching team. Both players are struggling for consistency, but Raducanu’s defensive work pays off as Stephens slaps a forehand into the net. Break point, converted as Stephens sends a backhand long!
First set: Stephens 0-6, 6-2, *0-1 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Raducanu moves 30-love up but a couple of snatched shots let Stephens back in. The Briton is frustrated, and complains to the umpire about crowd noise distracting her. She produces a big first serve, then gets over the line with a superb defensive slice and a winner at the net.
Stefanos Tsitsipas got the break he needed in the second set, turning a 30-0 deficit around in the ninth game and serving out. He leads Mikael Ymer 6-2, 6-4, 2-1 with another break in the third.
Looking at the scoreline, you might fear that Raducanu has lost her way – but it’s more a case of Stephens finding a much higher level in the second set, having barely turned up for the first. The American will be favourite going into the decider, but will those unforced errors return?
First set: Stephens 0-6, 6-2* Raducanu (*denotes next server) Sloane Stephens has found her groove now and offers Raducanu very little here, sealing the second set with a fierce forehand. Game very much on!
Emma Raducanu during her first round match. Photograph: Ella Ling/REX/Shutterstock
First set: Stephens 0-6, *5-2 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Stephens continues to blow hot and cold, a clinical return winner followed by a wafted backhand. Raducanu is forced to go for a winner down the line at deuce – and it drifts just long. She hangs on to win another hard-fought rally, but Stephens pings a forehand into the corner. Raducanu goes long again, and Stephens will serve for the second set!
“What has become of Sloane Stephens?” asks Dean Kinsella. “Is it injury or Covid or what?” A bit of both in the last year, and she’s had to overcome bereavements – her aunt died of Covid, and her grandparents died within a week of one another last year. She can still be very good on her day, but has struggled badly for consistency in the last couple of years.
Second set: Stephens 0-6, 4-2* Raducanu (*denotes next server) This could be a big moment – after toiling to 40-30, Stephens gets the better of a tough 21-point rally and lets out a yell. She’s looking much, much better than that dreadful first set.
On Rod Laver, Stefanos Tsitsipas took the first set 6-2 against Mikael Ymer – but it’s been a tougher test in the second, the Greek recovering from a break down to level at 4-4. Alex Popyrin’s hopes are over – he’s lost in five sets to France’s Arthur Rinderknech.
Second set: Stephens 0-6, *3-2 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Some wonky first serves allow Stephens in at 0-30, but Raducanu grinds out the next two points. An unforced error each, then a mistimed backhand from Raducanu offers her opponent a break point. She sends her next forehand long, and Stephens edges back in front – although neither player will be thrilled with how the second set has gone so far.
Sloane Stephens of the United States in action. Photograph: Rob Prange/REX/Shutterstock
Second set: Stephens 0-6, 2-2* Raducanu (*denotes next server) Stephens appeared to have found some rhythm, but offers up two sloppy points on serve to give Raducanu a chance at 0-30. Another loose shot offers up two break points, but a couple of ambitious shots fly wide. Deuce – but Stephens tries too hard on a cross-court winner and then badly miscues a slice. Raducanu breaks back!
Second set: Stephens 0-6, *2-1 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Raducanu could use a hold here, to stop momentum swinging any further. A booming, high forehand down the line doesn’t hurt, and the first serve is back on track in a hold to 15.
Second set: Stephens 0-6, *2-0 Raducanu (*denotes next server) That game lasted 15 minutes – almost as long as the entire first set. Stephens began to show what she can do there, and she backs up the break with a hold to 15 as Raducanu sends a return long.
Second set: Stephens 0-6, *1-0 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Stephens produces a winner to move 30-15 up, then both players have to wait while a ball boy collects a moth from the court. After that, it’s an errant double fault from Raducanu, and two break points – but she saves both with well-placed serves.
Stephens wafts a return a mile long, but prevails in the match’s longest (26 shots) and best rally so far. She gets another break point as Raducanu misjudges a volley, but fires an ambitious cross-court winner an inch wide. We go to a fifth deuce – but Raducanu serves up two straight double faults, and Stephens has the break!
Sloane Stephens has even less match practice under her belt – she got married, to US footballer Jozy Altidore (once of Sunderland), on New Year’s Day and their honeymoon was spoiled by a bout of Covid. She doesn’t look in the zone today, offering little answer to Raducanu’s attacking style.
Plenty of pundits were expecting a one-sided affair today, and so it’s proved – but it’s Emma Raducanu who is dominant, breaking for a third time to take the set 6-0. Stephens hasn’t really turned up, but this is still hugely impressive.
First set: Stephens *0-5 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Raducanu races in behind her serve and lands a sliced winner, then powers down two unstoppable serves. Stephens gets the next one back, but it’s smashed back across court. Raducanu leads 5-0 in 13 minutes – a stupendous start.
First set: Stephens 0-4* Raducanu (*denotes next server) Sloane Stephens is certainly lacking intensity early on here – maybe still annoyed about having to take her watch off. Raducanu, on the other hand, has been positive from the off and is hitting clean winners – a looping effort down the line earns the double break!
First set: Stephens *0-3 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Raducanu lost her only warm-up match in Australia 6-0, 6-1 to Elena Rybakina, so expectations for Melbourne were certainly tempered. From that perspective, this has been an encouraging start – despite a double fault, she holds to 15 against a passive Stephens.
First set: Stephens 0-2* Raducanu (*denotes next server) Raducanu starts off aggressively, stepping into the Stephens serve and setting up two break points as her opponent sends a loose forehand long. And she takes it when Stephens nets a backhand!
Emma Raducanu during her first round match. Photograph: Ella Ling/REX/Shutterstock
We’ll be focusing on this match, but here’s a quick sweep around the courts first – Stefanos Tsitsipas is cruising, 5-1 up on Ymer in the first set. Australia’s Alex Popyrin is a break down in the decider against Arthur Rinderknech. Former champion Angelique Kerber is out, losing 6-4, 6-3 to Kaia Kanepi.
An awkward pre-game moment as the umpire advises Sloane Stephens to take off her watch (I think). The American isn’t happy about it, saying a lot of other players have worn one for the warm-up. After that, Stephens wins the toss and elects to receive first.
Emma Raducanu is making her first grand slam appearance since winning the US Open, and today’s opponent could probably offer some words of advice on adjusting to life as a slam winner. Sloane Stephens was a surprise winner in New York back in 2017 but backed it up by reaching the French Open the following year.
The American has struggled in the last couple of seasons, slipping to world No 65 at present. She’s still a very tough draw in the first round, but perhaps in a way, she’s a better opponent for Raducanu today than an unfancied outsider – the pressure won’t be all on one side of the net.
Tsitsipas has an early break, and leads Mikael Ymer 3-1 in the first set. He beat today’s opponent in straight sets on the way to the semi-finals in Melbourne last year.
Alex De Minaur wins 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-3! The Australian men’s No 1 looked to be in trouble after Musetti took the first set, but he turned things around, and will face Kamil Majchrzak next after the Polish player eliminated Andreas Seppi earlier on.
Next up on Margaret Court Arena: it’s Emma Raducanu v Sloane Stephens!
For anyone out there who would like to listen along to matches with commentary specially designed for those with reduced vision, you can do so via Action Audio. They are offering a new audio service for the Australian Open, using real-time ball monitoring technology and spatial sound design. You can try it out here.
Alex De Minaur is closing in on victory over Lorenzo Musetti. He goes 5-3 up in the fourth set with a cross-court winner. Over on Rod Laver Arena, No 4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas is getting started against Sweden’s Mikael Ymer.
That was really impressive from Kyrgios, who hasn’t played a Tour match since September – and Liam Broady can be happy enough with his efforts, too.
Aryna Sabalenka has got through against wild card Storm Sanders, recovering from a set and a break down to win 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. Angelique Kerber is in deep trouble, though – she’s 4-6, 3-5 down to Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi.
Nick Kyrgios: “I had some doubts [if he would play], the last week has been tough in isolation – I couldn’t ask for a better team. I’m so happy to be here again, and to play in front of you guys, it was a lot of fun.
“The first couple of days [with Covid] I was bed-ridden, I didn’t know if I’d be able to play,” he adds. On his next opponent, Daniil Medvedev: “He’s a brilliant player, I’m going to have to play well – I’m not looking forward too much, I’ve got doubles tomorrow!”
Broady is expecting one more shot at the Kyrgios serve, but his opponent has other ideas, stepping on the gas to set up two break and match points – and he takes the first with a whipped, cross-court backhand return. Job done!
Australia’s Nick Kyrgios reacts. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images
Third set: Broady 4-6, 4-6, *3-5 Kyrgios (denotes next server) Broady is able to get one serve back over the net, and that is returned with interest by Kyrgios – now one game away from victory.
Third set: Broady 4-6, 4-6, 3-4* Kyrgios (denotes next server) There have been positives for Liam Broady – he holds to love here, and his beard-gold-chain-retro-kit combo is among the strongest we’ll see all fortnight. But the fact remains that he’s running out of time to finally break the Kyrgios serve.
Third set: Broady 4-6, 4-6, *2-4 Kyrgios (denotes next server) A pair of holds exchanged, and a couple of trick shots from Kyrgios that don’t quite come off. Kyrgios’ serve wobbled slightly at the start of this set but he’s back in the groove now, firing down aces to move two games from victory.
Aryna Sabalenka is also closing in on the second round – she’s now 5-1 up in the decider against Storm Sanders on Rod Laver Arena.
Third set: Broady 4-6, 4-6, 1-2* Kyrgios (denotes next server) Broady held off Kyrgios on serve and then forced a break point – but he’s under more pressure here at deuce. He nets, and it’s break point Kyrgios – and after a brutal rally, Kyrgios gets a lucky bounce off the net cord. He offers up a hand in apology, but the end result is that he’s four holds away from victory now.
Nick Kyrgios of Australia plays a forehand. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Sabalenka appears to have got herself out of trouble against Storm Sanders – a well-timed break in the second helped her level, and she’s now a break up in the decider.
Elsewhere, Alex De Minaur has raced to take the third set from Lorenzo Musetti, winning it 6-0. He leads 2-1, while fellow Aussie Alex Popyrin is 2-1 down to Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.
Third set: Broady 4-6, 4-6, *1-1 Kyrgios (denotes next server) An ill-advised through-the-legs effort from Kyrgios is dispatched by Broady, who then finds a winning return to get to deuce. Signs that Kyrgios has taken his eye off the ball, and it’s advantage Broady as he chases down a fortunate net-cord bounce. Kyrgios lets out a roar as Broady’s return goes long – and he backs that up with a couple more big serves to escape.
