Australian Open: Sinner Pushed For Two Sets, Then Pulls Away To Victory

Jannik Sinner, Australian Open
Jannik Sinner (photo: Tennis Australia/Fiona Hamilton)

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, January 13, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy began his Australian Open title defense on Rod Laver Arena Monday afternoon with a straight-set win.  While Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, all 6-feet-7-inches of him, stood as an imposing figure across the net from the shorter Sinner – and pushed him hard for two sets, both decided by tiebreakers – it was the 6-foot-3-inch South Tyrolean in the end who prevailed during the entertaining two-hour, 40-minute match.

The top-seeded Sinner won the first-round match 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5), 6-1 by winning 83 percent of his first-serve points, hitting 24 winners to just 12 unforced errors, and he pressured the 36th-ranked Jarry into committing 50 unforced errors. Sinner saved both break points he faced, converted two of five break-point opportunities, and outpointed the Chilean 111-88

“I think today was a very close one because the first sets, they can go both ways,” Sinner said afterward. The first set alone lasted one hour and 12 minutes. “In the third set, when I when I broke him the first time, that gave me a little bit of room to breathe. He is an incredible player, huge potential, so I’m happy how I handled the very tough situation in the first couple of sets and happy to be in the next round.”

The victory was the 15th consecutive win for Sinner dating back to last October. Each of his last 14 triumphs have been in straight sets. He’s now won 15 straight matches at hard-court major going back to the start of his 2024 Australian Open title run.

“The crowd and the fans, they give me so much support and it’s very nice to be back here,” Sinner added. “Obviously, I also like the hard courts here. But let’s see, every year is different, every day is different. We’ll try to improve. Obviously, I have a couple of things that I can surely do better, but first official match of the year for me, so I’m very happy.”

Next, Sinner will face 173rd-ranked Australian wild card Tristan Schoolkate, who advanced over No. 113 Taro Daniel of Japan, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-4. Sinner has reached the second round for the fifth time in his sixth AO appearance.

Djokovic begins quest for 11th AO title with Murray by his side

With Andy Murray watching from down court side in the role of coach, World No. 7 Novak Djokovic began his quest for an 11th AO singles title with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over 107th-ranked American wild card Nishesh Basavareddy on Rod Laver Arena Monday evening.

While the outcome of the first-round was never of much concern to Djokovic, he looked often at his coaching box to get encouragement from Murray over the course of the two-hour, 59-minute match. For his part, Murray appeared quite animated at time. By the end, though, all was good as the British great chalked up his first win as Djokovic’s mentor.

“It’s all business now for us, I’m thrilled to have him in my corner,” Djokovic said following the match, after hitting 23 aces and striking 51 winners. “It was a little bit of a strange experience to have him court side in my box. We played against each other for over 20 years, and it’s great to have him on the same side of the net.

“He gave me some great advice mid-match. It’s really good we have the opportunity to exchange some feedback and get our coaches to tell us what they see. It’s been a great experience [with Murray], hopefully we don’t stop here.”

During his on-court interview, Djokovic gave props to the 19-year-old NextGen rising star Basavareddy. The young American turned pro last month, forgoing his collegiate eligibility at Stanford University, where he spent two years. “He was the better player for a set and a half, he deserved every bit of applause that he got,” the 37-year-old Serbian great said of Basavareddy. “It was a great performance. These kinds of match-ups are always tricky [and] dangerous. He has nothing to lose in his first match at a Grand Slam.

“He pleasantly surprised me with all of his shots until the very end, so I wish him all the best for the future.”

Next, the No. 7 seed Djokovic will continue his campaign to achieve a record-extending 25th major title – and 100th crown overall – when he plays 125th-ranked Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria, who defeated No. 97 Pavel Kotov of Russia, 6-1, 6-1, 7-5.

Alcaraz up and running toward achieving career Grand Slam 

Only 21, World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain has already achieved three-quarters of a career Grand Slam – having won major titles at Roland Garros (2024), Wimbledon twice (2023-24) and the US Open (2022). On Monday evening, the buff and chiseled – and sleeveless – Spaniard began his quest for the missing major title, the Australian Open, by defeating No. 77 Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan, 6-1, 7-5, 6-1, in an hour and 54 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.

The No. 3 seed Alcaraz hit 38 winners, converted eight of 19 break points and outpointed Shevchenko 102-68. If Alcaraz wins this year’s AO title, he would become the youngest man to achieve the career Grand Slam honor.

“I am pleased to be through. I try to be the better version of myself every day. I work hard and that is the secret to my best level,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview.

Now, Alcaraz is through to the second round for the fourth straight year. Next, he will face 65th-ranked Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan, who upended 231st-ranked qualifier Aziz Dougaz of Tunisia, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Swiatek earns 23rd first-round win at a major

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland began her quest to win a first Australian Open title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 50 Katerina Siniakova of Czechia on John Cain Arena Monday afternoon. It was Swiatek’s 23rd first-round win at a Grand Slam event.

The five-time major titlist needed just an hour and 21 minutes to advance past Siniakova, who is a nine-time Grand Slam doubles champion and currently ranked No. 1 in doubles. Swiatek outpointed Siniakova 65-47.

“For sure it wasn’t the easiest match to start,” Swiatek said during her post-match news conference. “I kind of played better, I feel, at the end of the second set. So, I was able to learn from what I did wrong in the first. I think it was a solid match and I’m happy I’m through to the second round.”

Next, Swiatek will face No. 49 Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia, who advanced past No. 60 Katie Volynets of the United States, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Good day and night for American men and women

World No. 3 Coco Gauff, unseeded Alex Michelsen and No. 17 seed Frances Tiafoe set the tone early Monday and the wins kept coming for the American men and women throughout Monday’s first-round action.

After Gauff opened play on Rod Laver Arena with a confident and calm 6-3, 6-3 win over fellow American Sofia Kenin, the 42nd-ranked Michelsen scored the first big upset of the Aussie summer fortnight with a four-set win over No. 11 seed  Stefanos Tsitsipas , 7-5, 63, 2-6, 6-4. Then, it was Tiafoe’s turn to shine and he wrapped up a grueling five-set triumph over No. 61 Arthur Rinderknech of France, 7-6 (2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-3, that lasted four hours and eight minutes on 1573 Arena, in which he withstood 33 aces and 70 winners from the Frenchmen. Tiafoe struck 58 winners and outpointed Rinderknech 169-161.

Soon, No. 7 seed Jessica Pegula wrapped up a 59-minute win over 105th-ranked Australian wild card Maya Joint, 6-3, 6-3; No. 83 Caroline Dolehide defeated 155th-ranked qualifier Sara Bejlek of Czechia, 7-6 (5), 6-2; and No. 22 seed Sebastian Korda eliminated Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein, ranked 144th, 6-0, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6).

By night fall, the attention turned to No. 10 seed Danielle Collins, who won 7-6 (4), 6-3 over 138th-ranked Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur, and the night ended at 12:27 a.m. Tuesday with No. 12 seed Tommy Paul holding off No. 70 Christopher O’Connell of Australia, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 7-5, in four hours on Kia Arena.

Thus far, five American men and four American women have reached the second round. On Tuesday, the U.S. hopes to add to those totals as World No. 8 Emma Navarro opens the day on Rod Laver Arena against fellow American Peyton Stearns. Also, World No. 4 Taylor Fritz, World No. 20 Ben Shelton and World No. 14 Madison Keys are in action, too.

Around the Australian Open

• A year after returning to Grand Slam competition following her maternity leave, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka of Japan gained a matter of revenge against France’s Caroline Garcia. It was Garcia who eliminated the former World No. 1 in the opening round of the 2024 Australian Open. Monday evening on Rod Laver Arena, Osaka won their rematch, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, in an hour and 45 minutes. The win improved Osaka’s head-to-head against the 56th-ranked Garcia to 3-2.

“There was déjà vu, but not from last year,” Osaka said afterward. “I remember playing her in 2021, the year that I won. I kind of thought about that a little bit. I found it quite ironic that I play her every couple of Australian Opens.”

The 50th-ranked Osaka, who is a two-time Australian Open champion (2019, 2021), advanced to the second round and improved her AO win-loss record to 8-1. Next, she will face No. 20 seed Karolina Muchova of Czechia, who defeated No. 96 Nadia Podoroska of Argentina, 6-1, 6-1.

• Among the other Monday women’s results: No. 16 seed Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia was upset 6-3, 7-6 (6) by 294th-ranked Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, who continues to impress in her comeback from maternity leave. Also, No. 17 seed Marta Kostyk of Ukraine rallied to beat No. 125 Nao Hibino of Japan, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1; No. 21 seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who won AO titles in 2012 and 2013, lost to No. 76 Lucia Bronzetti of Italy, 6-2, 7-6 (2); and No. 27 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia advanced over No. 53 Yuan Yue of China, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

• Among the other Monday men’s results: British 15th seed Jack Draper fired 13 aces, struck 54 winners and came from behind to beat No. 47 Mariano Navone of Argentina, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, after four hours and one minute on Court 3. It set up a second-round clash with 71st-ranked Aussie favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis, who eliminated No. 63 Roman Safiullin of Russia, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (5), in four hours and five minutes on Kia Arena. Also, in his long-awaited return, Nick Kyrgios of Australia lost to No. 92 Jacob Fearnley of Great Britain, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (2), on John Cain Arena, site of many of the mercurial Australian’s greatest triumphs.

Meanwhile, No. 10 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria retired after 65 minutes against 104th-ranked Italian lucky loser Francesco Passaro due to a hip injury. He trailed in the match 7-5, 2-1. Also, No. 27 Jordan Thompson of Australia defeated 124th-ranked German qualifier Dominik Koepfer, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; No. 78 Arthur Cazaux of France upset No. 28 seed Sebastian Baez of Argentina, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3; and No. 29 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada beat No. 43 Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, 6-3, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1.

Monday’s Australian Open results

Tuesday’s Australian Open order of play

By the numbers

Monday’s day session attendance at Melbourne Park reached 59,621. Coupled with the Monday night session crowd of 35,669, the second-day day/night attendance reached 95,290 – an Australian Open single-day attendance record. The previous record of 94,854 was set in 2023. The cumulative attendance for the first two days of Australian Open 2025 is 176,989.

“Quotable …”

“I guess karma hit me. I was not able to deliver or play the way I was hoping to at this year’s event. The whole purpose was just to save up on some energy and be fresher hopefully in the deeper draw of the tournament.”

– World No. 12 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, during his post-match news conference, following his 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 loss to No. 42 Alex Michelsen of the United States on Monday afternoon. Tsitsipas had withdrawn from playing doubles with his younger brother in the hopes of being able to make a deep run in singles at this year’s Australian Open.

 

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