Australian Open 2021 LIVE updates: Alex Zverev v Marcos Giron, Millman out in first round, Williams sisters, Naomi Osaka through to second round

02/08/2021

Summary

‘Cat and mouse’ What’s it like to play Ash Barty and Rafael Nadal?
Calling off the Open would have been ‘catastrophic’, Tiley says
‘I don’t have much respect for him’: Djokovic takes aim at Kyrgios
‘I’ve eaten my brussels sprouts’: Barty ready to break 43-year Open drought

Changing ends

Damien Ractliffe signing on here, taking over from Anthony Colangelo who has done a power of work today.

The big game currently in process is the sixth seed Alex Zverev against American Marcos Giron…

And Zverev has just taken a two-sets to one lead – 6-7, 7-6, 6-3. He certainly got his game going in that third set.

A couple more big names on the winners list

No.27 seed Ons Jabeur has beaten Germany’s Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Over on Rod Laver Arena it was world No.3 Dominic Thiem who beat Mikhail Kukushkin 7-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Jabeur broke through at last year’s Australian Open to make the quarter finals, her best grand slam finish ever.

Meanwhile Thiem made the final last year and lost to Novak Djokovic but he won his first grand slam at the US Open in 2020.

Thiem serves during the win.Credit:Getty Images

John Millman’s loss full of highlights

Millman started slowly in his match. Credit:Eddie Jim

Monfils in tears after another loss

Frenchman Gael Monfils has seen his six match singles losing streak extend to seven matches, after losing in five sets to Emil Ruusuvuori on Monday.

The loss brought Monfils to tears in his post match press conference.

Ironically, Monfils was playing some really good tennis before the first coronavirus break – a career renaissance of sorts – but since returning he has struggled and the losing streak has grown.

“I would like to get out of this nightmare but I can’t,” Monfils, the 10th seed, said in French according to a translation.

“I feel judged. I’m already on the ground, you’re shooting at (…) me. It hurts … You can see that I can’t do it. I train and it doesn’t pass. When the guy’s down, don’t shoot him.”

Monfils can’t find a win at the moment.Credit:Getty Images

Watch: Venus Williams winds back the clock

Dominic Thiem in Adelaide. Credit:Getty Images

Ajla Tomljanovic first Aussie woman through

Ajla Tomljanovic is the first Australian woman into the second round, defeating Japan’s Misaka Doi, to set up a possible second round showdown with world No.2 Simona Halep.

Tomljanovic was impressive in winning 6-2, 6-1. Halep first meets Australian wildcard Lizette Cabrera in their first round match today.

Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in action during her loss to Maria Sakkari.Credit:Getty Images

Serena Williams lauds her inspirational sister

Serena Williams, 38, won her match as did Venus Williams, 40 (almost 41).

Here’s what Serena had to say about taking inspiration from her sister after her match:

“She’s such an inspiration because she never gets frustrated about her situation, health-wise.

“She’s always looking on the brightside. Then she works so hard. Yeah, she’s been great. We were hitting partners for the first two weeks, two and a half weeks, since we were here in Australia.

It was so good to train with her. It was so good every day. It’s also very inspiring because she still pushes me on a level that no one’s able to push me, so it was incredibly helpful.”

Serena also said her new one-legged bodysuit was inspired by Florence Griffith Joyner, the late American sprinter.

Williams has taken inspiration from her sister and a former US track and field star. Credit:Getty Images

Most Viewed in Sport

Source: Read Full Article