Australian Open | Rafael Nadal works hard against Jack Draper

(Melbourne) Rafael Nadal has never really been in danger of becoming the first defending Australian Open champion to lose in the first round since coach Carlos Moya stunned Boris Becker 25 years ago.

Rafa, who came into Monday’s game against Jack Draper going 0-2 in 2023 and having suffered six losses in his last seven games, however, did not deliver a performance to match his talent. After nearly two hours of ups and downs, Nadal was tied at one innings everywhere.

He then seemed to break away from his opponent, taking advantage of the latter’s cramps as the thermometer read 30 degrees Celsius. Draper, however, bounced back and earned a broken lead in the fourth set. From then on, Nadal never let a single game slip away, starting his journey to a 23^e career Grand Slam title with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory after three and a half hours of play on the Rod Laver Arena court.

His next opponent will be Mackenzie McDonald, an American college champion from UCLA who defeated compatriot Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1), 1-6, 6-7 (10), 6- 4 after a duel of more than four hours.

For his part, the holder of three career Grand Slam titles, Stanislas Wawrinka, lost the flag 6-7 (3), 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 ahead of Alex Molcan.

The biggest surprise for the men, however, came off the court: Wimbledon runner-up and home favorite Nick Kyrgios announced his retirement from competition in order to undergo surgery on his left knee.

“I’m knocked out, obviously,” admitted Kyrgios, a 27-year-old Australian who won the men’s doubles title in Melbourne last year.

Other top seeds who enjoyed success on Monday include Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 3), Hubert Hurkacz (No. 10) and Frances Tiafoe (No. 16). Daniil Medvedev, winner of the United States Open in 2021 and runner-up in the last two editions of the Australian Open, easily took the measure of the American Marcos Giron 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in the evening.

Swiatek continues on its way

In the ladies, favorite Iga Swiatek took over from Nadal on the Rod Laver Arena court for the evening program and quickly found herself in hot water in the second set. However, she kept her cool and won the last four games of the meeting to oust the 69^e world player Jule Niemeier 6-4, 7-5.

The holder of three career Grand Slam titles, who reached the semi-finals in Melbourne last year, will face the second round at the 84^e world racket Camila Osorio.

Earlier in the day, Americans Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff began their quest for a first major singles title in full force, clearing the first round with ease.

Third-seeded Pegula crushed Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 6-0, 6-1, while No. 7 Gauff shrugged off a second-set drop to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-1, 6- 4.

The two Americans could cross swords in the semi-finals.

Pegula, who has reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open the last two editions, needed just 59 minutes to get rid of Cristian, 161^e world racket.

“It was a day where everything worked,” said Pegula, who will face the winner of the duel between Brenda Fruhvirtova and Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the second round.

For her part, Gauff dominated the first set against Siniakova after having had the honor of participating in the opening ceremonies at Rod Laver Arena.

The Czech took a 4-2 lead in the second set, but Gauff turned it around.

“Katerina is a fighter and I knew it wouldn’t be an easy match. I had to stay mentally strong,” Gauff said.

During the second round, Gauff will find in her path the Briton Emma Raducanu. The US Open champion overcame a left ankle injury to defeat Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch 6-3, 6-2.

2017 US Open champion Madison Keys also won in three sets. Sixth-seeded Maria Sakkari also advanced to the second round, as did two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, who defeated 2020 tournament champion Sofia Kenin 6-4, 7-6 ( 3). Among the other major title holders who continued on Monday are also Petra Kvitova, Elena Rybakina, Jelena Ostapenko and Barbora Krejcikova.