The first grand slam of the year has begun and wow oh wow has the first day not disappointed. 5 set matches galore and a few upsets to get the year going. In the ladies draw we saw some straight set wins from some of the favourites. Pegula just dropped 1 game on her way to the 2nd round. Gauff, Raducanu, Sakkari, Kvitova, Ostapenko, Zheng, Krejcikova, Rybakina and Teichmann all won the first round matches comfortably. Andreescu comfortably knocked out 25th seed, Bouzkova. Collins scraped a 3 set win over Kalinskaya. The young Ukranian Kostyuk defeated 28th seed, Anisimova in straight sets. Azarenka found herself 3-0 down in the first set before taking the set 6-4 against Kenin. Azarenka managing to take the 2nd set and book her spot in the 2nd round. Swiatek took the first set 6-4 against a dangerous Niemeier. She then had to show some fight as she found herself 5-3 down in the 2nd set. She managed to win the next 4 games to book her spot in the 2nd round of the Aussie Open. Number 10 seed, Keys, also found herself in a tricky situation as she lost the 2nd set against Blinkova after she took the 1st set. Keys found some form just in time as she took the decider 6-2 and booked her spot in the 2nd round.

Onto the mens draw where our South African, Lloyd Harris, was coming back from a long injury which prevented him from playing for pretty much the entire 2022 season and managed to win a 5 set encounter against 17th seed, Musetti. Harris winning the 5th set in a 10 point tiebreak 10-4. 28th seed Cerundolo beat his fellow Argentine, Pella, in straight sets. Sinner cruised past Edmund in straight sets. 10th seed Hurkacz also won in straight sets as he beat Martinez. Van de Zandschulp beat a tough opponent in Ivashka in 4 sets. 29th seed, Korda, also beat a tricky opponent in Garin in a 4 set match. Nishioka, Griekspoor, Khachanov, Kubler, Norrie, Tsitsipas, and Medvedev all won their respective matches in straight sets. Shapovalov won in 4 sets as he beat Lajovic. McDonald came through a real tough match against fellow American, Nakashima. He managed to win in the 5th set 6-4. He will face number 1 seed, Nadal who came through Draper in 4 sets. The Brit really struggling with cramps at the end of both the 3rd and 4th sets. Tiafoe beat Altmaier in 4 sets to get his campaign off to a good start. Lehecka produced a big upset as he knocked out 23rd seed, Coric in straight sets. Could he be dangerous in this grand slam. Millman, Eubanks, Fucsovics, Molcan and Hijikata all won their matches in 5 sets. Auger-Aliassime lost the first set comfortably against Pospisil before taking the next 3 sets and booking his spot in the 2nd round.

The picks lost on day 1 were: Garin, Draper, Pella, Halys, Coria, Edmund, Baez, Wawrinka, Kwon, Nakashima, Siniakova, Bouzkova, van Uytvanck, Niemeier, Ansimova and Kenin.

Well done to ‘Down Under’ who become our first leaders of the 2023 year. They lead by 1 point over ‘BEEP BEEP THE ROAD RUNNER’. ‘Live once Serve Twice’ sit in 3rd while ‘Groundstroke’ and ‘Wizards’ sit in a tied 4th place. The wooden spoon currently sits with ‘Eish’.

Matches to Watch Day 2

• Dimitrov(27) vs Karatsev (02:00)
• Rublev(5) vs Thiem (02:00)
• Krajinovic vs Rune(9) (03:15)
• Davidovich Fokina(30) vs Bublik (03:15)
• Cressy vs Ramos-Vinolas (04:00)
• Fritz(8) vs Basilashvilli (04:00)
• Berrettini(13) vs Murray (04:30)
• Stuff vs Paul (04:30)
• Kokkinakis vs Fognini (05:15)
• Isner vs Mannarino (05:15)
• Carballes Baena vs Djokovic(4) (11:15)
• Machac vs Ruud(2) (11:15)

Jared

Jared matriculated in 2020 from Wynberg Boys High School in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. His passion for tennis afforded him the opportunity of travelling to Europe. He is a quizmaster and a tennis fantasy league organiser.http://Eishonline.co.za/jftl