MELBOURNE, Australia — Prime-ranked Iga Swiatek survived an early take a look at of her Australian Open title hopes when she held off 2020 champion Sofia Kenin 7-6 (2), 6-2 within the first spherical Tuesday.
Kenin served for the primary set at 5-4 however couldn’t shut it out. Swiatek rallied to take it within the tiebreaker after which broke Kenin’s serve 5 video games later.
“It wasn’t simple to seek out my rhythm. I felt just a little bit off and Sofia did every part to maintain it that approach, large respect to her,” Swiatek stated. “I managed to get my degree up within the second set.”
Swiatek, aiming for a fifth main title however first in Australia, faces one other former finalist in her powerful bracket on the high of the ladies’s draw.
Danielle Collins, the runner-up right here two years in the past, beat 2016 champion Angelique Kerber 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
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“A tricky little bracket that now we have!” Collins stated of the primary two rounds. “I used to be like, ‘Wow, I get actually nice attracts now.’ However when you’re attempting to win a Grand Slam, you form of should beat everybody.”
Kerber was one among three previous Australian champions making their returns to Melbourne Park for the primary time as moms. She joined four-time main winner Naomi Osaka as a first-round exit. Caroline Wozniacki, the 2018 winner, has reached the second spherical.
Final yr’s runner-up Elena Rybakina superior 7-6 (6), 6-4 over former No. 1-ranked Karolina Pliskova to begin the night time session on Rod Laver Enviornment.
Victoria Azarenka, the winner in Melbourne in 2012 and 2013, gained a hard-hitting contest with Camila Giorgi of Italy, advancing 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. No. 11-seeded Jelena Ostapenko, the previous French Open champion, beat Kimberley Birrell 7-6 (5), 6-1.
“Proper into the match, proper, enjoying in opposition to Camila, we all know how harmful she will be,” 18th-seeded Azarenka stated. “I really feel like I did not play my greatest tennis as we speak however I’m completely satisfied I used to be capable of finding my approach round.”
Sloane Stephens discovered her approach again to the winner column after selecting up her first victory on the Australian Open since 2019. She beat wild-card entry Olivia Gadecki 6-3, 6-1. The 30-year-old American, who gained the U.S. Open in 2017, gained 5 straight video games from 2-0 down within the opening set and eased by the second to clinch victory in slightly below an hour.
“Happy with the way in which I performed,” stated Stephens, who reached the semifinals of the occasion in 2013 however who has misplaced within the first spherical in seven of her previous eight visits to Melbourne. “I have been working so much on making the opponents play. I feel that is one thing I had bought away from. Happy with the win.”
