Laura Siegemund caused a little surprise in the first round of the Australian Open. The doubles specialist from Metzingen defeated the 17th-seeded Russian Jekaterina Alexandrowa after a three-set thriller 6:2, 3:6, 7:6 (11:9).
Shortly afterwards, Tatjana Maria also won her opening game against Camila Osorio from Colombia 7:5, 6:7 (4:7), 6:4 and also defied circulatory problems in the meantime. At the start in Melbourne on Sunday, Tamara Korpatsch had already survived the first round.
1st round women arrow right 1st round men arrow right
False start for three German men
The German tennis men, on the other hand, got off to a false start. On Monday, a trio of Daniel Altmaier, Yannick Hanfmann and Maximilian Marterer failed in the first round. Despite a strong fighting performance, Altmaier lost against number 15 seeded Russian Karen Chatschanow 7:5, 3:6, 6:7 (5:7), 6:7 (3:7). Altmaier had to admit defeat after 4:02 hours.
Altmaier had already failed at his opening hurdle in Melbourne in the last two years. This time the 25-year-old found his way into the match strongly and took the first set from his favored opponent. After losing the set in the tiebreak of the third round, Altmaier lost his rhythm a little. Last year’s semi-finalist Khachanov was the more ripped off player in the crucial moments.
Alexander Zverev plays on Tuesday
Hanfmann had no chance against Frenchman Gael Monfils at 4:6, 3:6, 5:7. After a strong year in 2023, the new tennis season for the Davis Cup professional began with disappointment. Monfils took advantage of his first match point after 2:19 hours and never really let the 32-year-old German get into the game.
Early farewell to Melbourne: Yannick Hanfmann.
Marterer also couldn’t meet expectations. The Portuguese Nuno Borges ultimately had the upper hand against the 28-year-old from Nuremberg, who did not find his form, with 7:5, 7:6 (7:3), 6:2. Also competing in the first round is Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, who will face Dominik Koepfer in a German duel on Tuesday.
Early exit for Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka
On Monday, the first appearance was also the last for Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka: Murray was in the final five times in Melbourne, Wawrinka won the title in 2014. That’s another reason why Australian fans love the two oldies so much. But this year things didn’t go well at all for the 36-year-old Brit and the 38-year-old Swiss on the Yarra River.
The two veterans had imagined it completely differently. But Wawrinka ultimately ran out of steam in the 4:6, 6:3, 7:5, 3:6, 0:6 against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. Murray never found his rhythm in the 4:6, 2:6, 2:6 defeat of Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Bitterly disappointed: Andy Murray after his exit.
Laura Siegemund plays her best tennis
The German women showed a better hand: Siegemund started well in 30 degree temperatures in summery Melbourne and took the first set without any major problems. After that she had difficulties with her serve and couldn’t even get her service through in the entire second set. The decision was made in the third set, where Siegemund initially trailed.
In the end, the world number 78 rewarded herself for a great effort of will and converted her second match point after 3:01 hours. She now faces Australian qualifier Storm Hunter. “I’m probably playing the best tennis of my life,” said the 35-year-old confidently afterwards: “I’m playing really good quality. If I’m physically fit, I can keep up with the best.”
The support of the Australian audience and especially a little girl helped her, which is why she said to herself: “Play what you feel!” National coach Barbara Rittner also certified that she had “the best tennis of her career” at almost 36. This is certainly the final spurt of one’s career, “but such a final spurt can also be long.”
Tatjana Maria catches up with a 1:5 deficit
Maria made up for a 1:5 deficit in the first set, then gave up a 5:2 lead in the second round and lost the set in the tiebreak. The German number one then had to be treated for minutes at high temperatures of around 30 degrees because she had apparently developed circulatory problems in the heat.
However, the mother of two survived the weak phase and was the dominant player again in the third section. After 2:52 hours, Maria converted her first match point and then leaned against the net, completely exhausted. She will now face the Italian Jasmine Paolini. “I’m over the moon that I won,” said the 36-year-old. “I had to fight until the last point. I have to recover first.”
Strong nerves one round further: Tatjana Maria
Naomi Osaka fails in her comeback
Naomi Osaka suffered a quick exit from her much-noticed Grand Slam comeback in Melbourne. The 26-year-old lost her first round match at the Australian Open 4:6, 6:7 (2:7) despite a solid performance by 16th-seeded Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.
The Japanese woman, who temporarily turned away from tennis in September 2022 due to psychological problems and gave birth to daughter Shai in July 2023, showed good approaches in the Rod Laver Arena at the end of the second day of the tournament, but still needs time on the way to her old strength . Garcia used her first match point against the 2019 and 2021 tournament winner after 1:27 hours of play.
Coco Gauff wins confidently
By midday, US Open champion Coco Gauff had confidently moved into the second round. The 19-year-old defeated the Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6:3, 6:0 in her opening match and confirmed her impressive early form. At the start of the year, Gauff convincingly defended her title at the WTA tournament in Auckland.
In the second round, the American will face her compatriot Caroline Dolehide. “I feel good, I just want to have fun. This is definitely the ‘Happy Slam’ here in Australia, and that’s what I’m trying to be,” said Gauff.
Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova also suffered an early exit. The Czech, number seven in the world, had no chance against the outstanding Ukrainian qualifier Dajana Jastremska and lost 1:6, 2:6. Jastremska’s compatriot Elina Switolina, seeded 24th, moved into the next round with an easy 6:2, 6:2 against Australian Taylah Preston.