MELBOURNE, Australia | For Denis Shapovalov, the Australian Open is a bit like a blank page on which the history of the season begins to be written.
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“This is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean, explained the Canadian on Monday. It’s the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, you want to do your best. You don’t know what awaits you for the rest of the season.”
“Shapo”, 20e favorite in Melbourne, has blackened the first lines of this white page by defeating the Serbian Dusan Lajovic, 86th in the world, in the first round.
The 23-year-old struggled a bit in the second set, but he eventually prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, in 2h 23m, in a close match after 12 noon Australian time at 1573 Arena.
Profitable downturn
Despite the 60 ranks that separate them in the world rankings, Shapovalov did not expect an easy encounter against Lajovic who, at 32, is an old hand on the circuit.
First, because his rival of the day “is a tough opponent to beat, who has obtained great victories over the years”.
And secondly, because in Australia “the players are ready, motivated and playing well”.
Shapovalov was right to fear the Serb. At least, for two and a half innings.
According to his own analysis, “Shapo” took advantage of a slight drop in Lajovic’s diet in the third set to “take back the momentum in the match”, which he finally won with aces (16) and winning strikes ( 52).
“During the first two and a half sets, the level of play and intensity were really high,” he pointed out. Afterwards, I noticed that his energy level had dropped by maybe 5 or 10% and tried to take advantage of that. »
Patience and opportunism
The Canadian will now face the Japanese Taro Daniel, 94th player in the world. In Quebec, this match will take place Tuesday evening or on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.
An opponent he has faced on two occasions since the start of his career – including once in Melbourne, in 2019 – and whom he has beaten each time.
But despite those two one-sided victories, Shapovalov said he was wary of his next rival.
“He’s a super solid player, who has a good service, he noted. When I faced him here I was able to dictate the game. I think I have to play like I did [lundi], that is to say, I must remain patient and seize the opportunities that come my way. »
Marino’s sharp disappointment
The nice Rebecca Marino had a long face when she met the journalists, shortly after the dry defeat she had just suffered at the hands of the Chinese Zhu Lin on Monday.
The Canadian, 67th in the world, struggled to explain how she was able to lose 6-2 and 6-4 in just 1 h 06 min.
It was his third encounter against Lin, 87th. The players had shared the honors of the first two. The victory for Marino, 32, came last year in Miami in the second round of qualifying.
“But the conditions were totally different,” she pointed out. The bullets were heavier. »
“She was moving well,” she added briefly of Monday’s game. She also adapted better to the noise. [il y avait beaucoup de partisans chinois sur le petit court 14]. »
No ace, a rarity
Marino hadn’t yet taken the time to look at her stats when she appeared in front of the media, but she was well aware that her serving performance had also sunk her.
Not just because she didn’t hit an ace the entire game – an unusual feat for the powerful waitress – but mostly because her first-serve percentage (56% in play, 52% won) was clearly insufficient according to her standards.
She will have to adapt
The British Columbian did not experience the expected results during her tour in Oceania. Beaten on entry to Hobart and in the second round in Auckland, she recognizes that she will have to adjust to her new status.
Players are “getting to know me again,” says Marino, who returned to the tour in 2018 after stepping away from tennis for nearly five years to deal with mental health issues.
“Now that I no longer have to systematically go through qualifications, I have to get used to playing at this level on a regular basis again,” she points out.
Marino does not yet know exactly where she will continue this “adaptation” in the coming weeks. It could be Dubai or Mexico.
“With my ranking, I have to do calculations, look at the list of players, analyze where I can enter without having to play in the qualifications, she explained. It will therefore be to follow. »