Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and 18th seed Coco Gauff were two of the biggest names to be knocked out of the Australian Open on Day 1.
The 11th-seeded Kenin was beaten by 2017 U.S. Open runner-up Madison Keys 7-6 (2), 7-5 in an all-American match-up.
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Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, will drop a lot closer to No. 100 after a first-round exit at Melbourne Park on Monday.
Second round unlocked 🔓
🇺🇸 @Madison_Keys knocks out the 2020 champion Sofia Kenin, 7-6(2) 7-5 to move on at Melbourne Park.
🎥: @wwos • @espn • @Eurosport • @wowowtennis#AO2022 • #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/B1qRoCb4KX
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2022
Unforced errors
Gauff went out in a blaze of unforced errors, losing 6-4, 6-2 to China’s Wang Qiang.
The youngest player in the draw at 17, Gauff was dominated by the world number 110 in just 73 minutes of action on Margaret Court Arena.
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Wang is coached by Australian great Pat Cash, but joked that the 1987 Wimbledon champion has not forced her to wear his trademark chequered headband during matches – not yet anyway.
“Only during practice, yeah,” she laughed. “I just do what he tells me. I think I did really well today, right?”
Ons Jabuer pulls out
Tunisian trailblazer Ons Jabeur has been forced to withdraw from the Australian Open with a back injury.
She has been replaced by lucky loser Irina Bara.
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No 9 seed Jabeur was scheduled to face Spanish world No.64 Nuria Parrizas Diaz in the opening round.
Key results
Men’s singles
Alexander Zverev bt Daniel Altmaier 7-6 (3), 6-1, 7-6 (1)
Matteo Berrettini bt Brandon Nakashima 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-3
Tallon Griekspoor bt Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
Women’s singles
Ash Barty bt Lesia Tsurenko 6-0, 6-1
Naomi Osaka bt Camila Osorio 6-3, 6-3
Maria Sakkari bt T Maria 6-4, 7-6 (2)
