Australian Open: Rafael Nadal reaches into second round

Rafael Nadal’s chase for a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title is off to a good start. The World No. 2 defeated Serbian Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the second round. The legendary southpaw will play American qualifier Michael Mmoh in the second round. If Nadal wins this year’s Australian Open, he will become the first man in the Open Era to win the Career Grand Slam twice.

In today's fixtures, Serena Williams continues her quest for a record 24th Grand Slam singles title when she plays her second-round match against Nina Stojanovic of Serbia. Bianca Andreescu, who beat Williams in the 2019 U.S. Open final but was then sidelined for 15 months, plays her second match in a long-awaited injury comeback against Hsieh Su-wei.

Eight-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic plays Frances Tiafoe in what could be an early test for the defending champion. U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem takes on Dominik Koepfer in the second round while Denis Shapovalov, who had a tough five-set win over Jannik



Sinner in an enthralling five-setter between future stars, is up against Australian qualifier Bernard Tomic.

World number one Ashleigh Barty brushed aside Danka Kovinic to enter the second round of the Women's Singles in Australian Open Tennis. Barty did not lose a single game en route to her 6-0, 6-0 win against Montenegrin in the opening round played on cushion acrylic hard court of Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park.

The Australian will face Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo or local wildcard Daria Gavrilova in the next round.

 

In another match, defending champion Sofia Kenin registered a 7-5, 6-4 win over Australian wildcard and World Number 133 Maddison Inglis.

 

However, former champion Victoria Azarenka was knocked out of the tournament. The Belarusian, who won the title in 2012 and 2013 and was a US Open finalist in September last year, lost to Main draw debutant American Jessica Pegula 5-7, 4-6 in the first round.