Zhang powers through in straight sets

China ace Zhang Zhizhen laid down a marker in Melbourne, as he cruised pass Argentinian Federico Coria in straight sets on Monday to clinch his first career win at the Australian Open.

Cheered on by an enthusiastic Chinese crowd, Zhang got his 2024 Aussie Open off to a flying start after beating world No 84 Coria, 6-4,7-6(3), 7-6(5), in two hours and 33 minutes, to claim his first main draw victory in Melbourne and his fifth major singles win.

This week, Zhang, currently ranked world No 54, had openly expressed his wish to reach the second week of the tournament this year, following a laborious five-set loss in last year's opener. The solid win on Monday has shown his much-improved game, both technically and mentally, after a season of progression in 2023 that saw him fight into the round of 32 at both the French and US Open tournaments.

Zhang's maiden Australian Open win builds on the new year momentum of Chinese men's tennis, following teen star Shang Juncheng's career first semifinal berth on the ATP circuit at the Hong Kong Open on Jan 6. Shang, an 18-year-old former junior No 1, begins his second Australian Open main draw campaign on Tuesday facing world No 42 Mackenzie McDonald of the United States.

Two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev and US Open champion Coco Gauff swept into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday, but Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova was sent packing.

Men's seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and 16th seed Ben Shelton also tasted victory, ahead of Naomi Osaka's Grand Slam comeback at the Rod Laver Arena in the evening session.

Third seed Medvedev battled tough conditions in Margaret Court Arena against French qualifier Terence Atmane, who smashed his racket, served underarm and retired in tears after suffering bad cramp that forced him off court while losing 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 1-0.

"When I started to feel tough physically, he started cramping, so it was brutal conditions," said Russia's Medvedev, a finalist in 2021 and 2022.

"I was getting tired, but many times in these situations the other guy is getting tired too, and it's about who manages it better."

The Russian will face Finland's unseeded Emil Ruusuvuori in the next round.

Tsitsipas, who lost last year's final to Novak Djokovic, was stunned by Belgian Zizou Bergs in the first set, but woke up to take complete control and win 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3.

The Greek star was due to meet Italian Matteo Berrettini, but the former world number six withdrew with a foot injury on Sunday.

Women's fourth seed Gauff said ahead of the opening Grand Slam of the year that she wanted to win "multiple" major titles after her breakthrough at Flushing Meadows in 2023.

The 19-year-old put the plan into motion with a 6-3, 6-0 rout of Slovakia's 68th-ranked Anna Karolina Schmiedlova on center court.

"I was a little bit nervous coming in today. You could probably tell. I was able to just calm down and then play good, not my best, but good tennis," said Gauff, who successfully defended her Auckland title in the lead-up.

Her reward is a clash with unseeded American Caroline Dolehide in round two.

While she lived to fight another day, it was curtains for Vondrousova, who slumped 6-1, 6-2 to Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska.

The Czech seventh seed pulled out of the warm-up Adelaide International last week with a hip injury and said she was also struggling with a sore shoulder, which affected her serve.

China Daily - Agencies