smiles for Sinner and Alcaraz, unexpected work for Djokovic and farewell for three Argentines and a favorite

The second day of competition at the Australian Open provided the certification that Jannik Sinner y Carlos Alcaraz They are two of the big favorites to win the title. Also Novak Djokovicwho needed four sets to get rid of the young American Nishesh Basavareddyleft a surprise with the premature elimination of Stefanos Tsitsipas and disappointment between Sebastian Baez, Mariano Navone y Nadia Podoroskathe three Argentines who had action and said hello and goodbye in the first Grand Slam of the season.

Sinner, world number 1, surpassed the combative this Monday Nicolas Jarry and advanced to the second round of the Australian Open, where he was warmly received despite the doping scandal. After a 2024 full of successes, but marred by two positive tests, the Italian began the defense of the title in Melbourne against a tough rival. The Chilean, number 36 in the ranking, put up resistance against Sinner, who needed 2 hours and 40 minutes to seal the pass with a score of 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-5) and 6-1 in the Rod Laver Arena, the complex’s main stage.

“Today was a close match because in the first sets it could have gone either way,” said Sinner, who hasn’t lost since October. The Italian, who a year ago won his first Grand Slam tournament after beating the Russian Daniil Medvedev in the Melbourne final, will face the Australian in the next round Tristan Schoolkatewho beat the Japanese Taro Daniel 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 and 6-4.

It was the Italian’s first match since the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced last week that in April it will study the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal against the light sanction imposed against him for two positive clostebol tests. Sinner alleged that the substance entered his body accidentally because his physical therapist used a spray to heal a wound and gave him a massage without gloves. The International Tennis Integrity Agency believed his version.

Alcaraz, No. 3 in the world ranking, debuted with an expeditious three-set victory (6-1, 7-5 and 6-1) against the Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko (77°). The Spaniard, who needed just under two hours to get rid of his rival, will face the Japanese in the second round Yoshihito Nishioka (65th), who eliminated the Tunisian in four sets About Aziz (231°).

The one from Murcia did not seem to feel the pressure to play the first Grand Slam of the season, and the only one of the four that has not won yet, and already in the first set he made a difference with a 6-1 in less than half an hour. With the Spaniard 3-1 up in the second, Shevchenko reacted, not only returning the break, but also breaking his serve again to be just one game away from equalizing the score (5-4). But Alcaraz, already winner of four Grand Slams (two Wimbledon, a Roland Garros and a US Open) clung to his hierarchy to save that moment and take the second set 7-5, before closing the match with another clear 6- 1.

Djokovic, seeded seventh, had to work harder than necessary against a daring Basavareddy, who in his debut in major tournaments showed his best tennis and managed to snatch the first set from the top winner of majors -he is 24-. The 21-year-old youth, of Indian origin, put the Serbian in trouble, who managed to react to take the match forward. In the end it was a victory for Nole, who had his new coach, Andy Murray, in his box, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and 6-2 after two hours and 59 minutes of action. In the second round, former world No. 1 will meet the Portuguese Jaime Fariawho beat the Russian in straight sets Pavel Kotov.

It didn’t go well for the three Argentines who already took the field. Báez (28th seeded) lost to the Frenchman Arthur Cazaux by 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, 6-0 and 6-3. The Buenos Aires native’s match lasted just under three hours and 46 minutes, as he was unable to beat a lower-ranked rival (78th). In his fourth consecutive participation in Melbourne, Báez put himself in a position to turn the match around after winning the second and third sets, but in the fourth he ran into a superb Cazaux in the return. Although the first game of the fifth went to the Argentine in the rest, the Frenchman regained ground without difficulty.

Navone, who is preparing for his Davis Cup debut in the series against Norway, battled for four hours and five sets, but could not prevent the defeat against the British Jack Draper (15th) 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and 6-2. It was much worse for Nadia Podoroskawho fell without mitigation, by a double 6-1, against the experienced Czech Karolina Muchova.

Another who was left out of the tournament, in one of the big surprises of the second day, was the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (11th), defeated by the American Alex Michelsenwhich won in four sets 7-5, 6-3, 2-6 and 6-4. The same bad luck ran Nick Kyrgiosback on the circuit after 18 months out, who lost to the British Jacob Fearnley by 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 and 7-6 (7-2). Without ranking, without coach, without freshness after the long period without games due to successive knee, foot and wrist injuries, the Australian was unable to advance through the draw in his tenth participation in Melbourne, where in 2015 he reached the quarterfinals.

Jannik Sinner (ITA/N.1) defeated Nicolás Jarry (CHI) 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5), 6-1

Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) a Taro Daniel (JPN) 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-4

Alex Michelsen (USA) a Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/N.11) 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4

James McCabe (AUS) beats Martín Landaluce (ESP) 6-4, 6-3, 6-4

Fábián Marozsa (HUN) beat Thiago Wild (BRA) 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 5-7, 7-5

Frances Tiafoe (USA/N.17) bt Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) 7-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7, 6-3

Jaime Faria (POR) and Pavel Kotov (RUS) 6-1, 6-1, 7-5

Jack Draper (GBR/N.15) to Mariano Navone (ARG) 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) and Roman Safiullin (RUS) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5)

Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) and Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-7 (3/7), 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

Sebastian Korda (USA/N.22) and Lukás Klein (SVK) 6-3, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6)

Jordan Thompson (AUS/N.27) a Dominik Koepfer (GER) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

Nuno Borges (POR) to Alexandre Muller (FRA) 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-2, 7-5

Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) a Aziz Dougaz (TUN) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3

Jakub Mensík (CZE) and Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-3

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) a Shang Juncheng (CHN) 7-6 (7/1), 5-2 y abandono

Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN/N.29) beat Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-3, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1

Roberto Carballés Baena (ESP) a Alejandro Tabilo (CHI/N.23) 1-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1)

James Duckworth (AUS) a Dominic Stricker (SUI) 6-2, 6-4, 6-2

Arthur Cazaux (FRA) to Sebastián Báez (ARG/N.28) 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3

Magdalena Frech (POL/N.23) defeated Polina Kudermetova (RUS) 6-4, 6-4

Moyuka Uchijima (JPN) and Magda Linette (POL) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (10/8)

Diana Shnaider (RUS/N.12) to Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4

Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) and Ashlyn Krueger (USA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

Harriet Dart (GBR) a Jana Fett (CRO) 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (10/7)

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS/N.27) a Yuan Yue (CHN) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

Anastasia Potapova (RUS) and Tamara Zidansek (SLO) 6-2, 7-5

Laura Siegemund (GER) a Hailey Baptiste (USA) 4-6, 7-5, 6-4

Cori Gauff (USA/N.3) to Sofia Kenin (USA) 6-3, 6-3

Jodie Burrage (GBR) and Léolia Jeanjean (FRA) 6-2, 6-4

Belinda Bencic (SUI) and Jelena Ostapenko (LAT/N.16) 6-3, 7-6 (8/6)

Talia Gibson (AUS) to Zeynep Sönmez (TUR) 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1

Jule Niemeier (GER) and Maja Chwalinska (POL) 6-0, 6-1

Marta Kostyuk (UKR/N.17) and Nao Hibino (JPN) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1

Liudmila Samsonova (RUS/N.25) and Kamilla Rakhimova (RUS) 6-2, 6-4

Olga Danilovic (SRB) vs Arantxa Rus (NED) 6-4, 6-4

Jessica Pegula (USA/N.7) and Maya Joint (AUS) 6-3, 6-0

Elina Svitolina (UKR/N.28) over Sorana Cirstea (RUM) 6-4, 6-4

Caroline Dolehide (USA) and Sára Bejlek (CZE) 7-6 (7/5), 6-2

Jaqueline Cristian (RUM) to Petra Martic (CRO) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (10/7)

Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) to Victoria Azarenka (BLR/N.21) 6-2, 7-6 (7/2)

Rebecca Sramková (SVK) and Katie Volynets (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2

Iga Swiatek (POL/N.2) defeated Katerina Siniakova (CZE) 6-3, 6-4