Key events
Casper Ruud defeats Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 6-3, 6-1
Over on Margaret Court Arena, 11th seed Ruud of Norway has just comprehensively downed Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas in straight sets.
Speaking on court after the match, a relaxed Ruud says he didn’t want to spend too much time in the heat today.
It feels good, it’s warm out there today, I didn’t want to spend to much energy in the sun. So I went out firing in the beginning.
It’s my favourite slam of the year. You get warm days like this but its all worth it with the crowd and how good Melbourne is as a city, so it’s great to be back.
I had a great preseason with my team … it seems like its working really well, the body and the tennis is feeling great. Hopefully I can have a good run down here.
Before he departs he lets everyone know that he’s taking the night off tennis to take a zoom call with an interior architect for his new house. It will fabrics and colour palettes tonight rather than thinking too much about his next match.
Alex Michelsen beats James McCabe 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
The Australian wildcard started strong but Michelsen finished off in convincing fashion and is through to the second round.
The 19-year-old American made the most of his break points, winning six of eight, while McCabe could only turn 11 opportunities into three breaks across the clash.
Iga Świątek beats Sofia Kenin 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
The women’s world No 1 Świątek has torn through Kenin in the second set, wrapping up her first-round match in just over two hours. Kenin had a promising first set but couldn’t back it up in the second.
Mate Valkusz wins first set against Max Purcell 6-3
The Hungarian broke Purcell’s second service game and then eased through the rest of the set without allowing the Australian a break point.
Purcell looks to have his work cut out on Kia Arena where he has found it hard to make the most of his renowned serve-and-volley game.
Our own Jack Snape is courtside…
Australia’s third-highest ranked men’s player Max Purcell has lost the first set against Hungarian Mate Valkusz on Kia Arena, as the mercury rises at Melbourne Park. Temperatures are nudging 30 degrees C. pic.twitter.com/ujbNmREDNi
— Jack Snape (@jacksongs) January 16, 2024
Alex Michelsen storms through the third set 6-1 against James McCabe
The American has left local hope McCabe with plenty to do to turn the clash around and into a fifth set.
Michelsen looks in fine touch with nine winners in the third set alone, while McCabe is now paying the price for making too many unforced errors.
Max Purcell v Mate Valkusz. The local hope is just getting going against Valkusz in their first round clash on Kia Arena.
The Australian is now No 45 in the singles rankings after reaching a high of 40 in October last year and first making his name on the doubles circuit.
Jack Snape spoke to Purcell ahead of the Australian Open:
Iga Świątek takes first set 7-6 (7-2) against Sofia Kenin
Świątek seemed a little slow to get going in that very tight first set with the American former champ, but she turned on the gas when it mattered in the tie-breaker. Kenin was super sharp early but faded slightly as the set went on.
Can Kenin regroup and go again or will Świątek run away with this now?
Sofia Kenin is getting frustrated as Iga Świątek shows her class in this tie-breaker. The American slams her racquet on the court after Świątek goes three points up.
Now 6-2 to the No 1
Sofia Kenin holds her serve and is into a tie-breaker with Iga Świątek in the first set. Kenin serves first and is unlucky as Świątek’s shot hits the net and drops over.
James McCabe draws level with Alex Michelsen 6-7 (5-7), 6-3
The young Australian wildcard broke Michelsen in the eighth game then held his serve to make it one set apiece on Court 3.
McCabe has sent down 10 aces so far including four in the second set, while winning 88% of his first serves.
Iga Świątek has broken back against Sofia Kenin with the first set now at five games all. The Polish superstar totally dominated that game when it briefly looked like Kenin might gives us an upset.
Sofia Kenin is serving for the first set against Iga Świątek. But the world No 1 is making her work for it!
Day three is well and truly warming up as the mercury nudges towards 30 degrees, but if you’re still catching up on the action from last night…
Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka failed to make it past the first round in her first grand slam appearance since 2022 after giving birth.
Osaka, the Australian Open winner in 2019 and 2021, pushed Caroline Garcia but the 20th seed eventually prevailed 6-4, 7-6(2).
Tumaini Carayol was on the ground:
Coco Gauff made light work of Anna Karolína Schmiedlová with a straightforward 6-3, 6-0 victory.
Last year’s US Open champion revealed afterwards that she worked with Andy Roddick in the off-season to smooth out her serve.
“He’s probably one of the best servers in history, and especially on the American side,” Gauff said.
“I don’t think I could have gotten anybody else better to kind of help me with that.”
Here is more from Tumaini Carayol at Melbourne Park:
James McCabe tie-breaker errors hand first set to Alex Michelsen 7-6 (7-5)
McCabe, another Australian wildcard, overcame a slow start to push Michelson into a tie-breaker and was just two points away from taking the first set.
The 21-year-old from Sydney trailed 4-0 early in the set before fighting back to lead 5-4, as the pair then broke each other’s serve across the next three games.
McCabe had the first set within his grasp when up 5-2 in the tie-breaker, but a forehand winner from Michelsen was followed by four errors from the Australian.
Iga Świątek v Sofia Kenin. The women’s top seed and the 2020 Australian Open champion have a game each as their blockbuster clash gets under way on Rod Laver Arena.
Sloane Stephens beats Olivia Gadecki 6-3, 6-1
After taking a while to warm up Stephens is through to the second round for just the second time in her past eight appearances at the Australian Open.
Stephens powered through the second set 6-1 to clinch the victory over 21-year-old Gadecki.
The Australian wildcard made a fast start to lead the first set 2-0 but could then only hold her serve twice as Stephens took 12 of the next 14 games.
Alex de Minaur through to second round
A recap on some of Monday night’s action – De Minaur secured his place in the second round of the Australian Open despite a scare, and has pledged to get revenge against his next opponent, Matteo Arnaldi, for last year’s Davis Cup final defeat.
Australia’s top-ranked player prevailed on Rod Laver Arena against Milos Raonic after the Canadian was forced to withdraw due to a leg injury with the match finely poised at one set all and De Minaur 2-0 up in the third.
Jack Snape’s report:
World doubles No 1 Storm Hunter equalled her grand slam singles best
The Australian moved into the second round with a win over Italian veteran Sara Errani.
The 29-year-old was emotional after the victory which matched her first round efforts at the French Open last year.
“It means everything,” Hunter said on court after the match. “I grew up watching the Australian Open and then dreaming of playing here.”
More from Jack Snape at Melbourne Park:
Sloane Stephens takes the first set 6-3 against Olivia Gadecki
The Australian wildcard Gadecki opened the match with a break to love and held onto her own serve again without dropping a point to lead 2-0.
But 2017 US Open winner Stephens soon took control to make it 5-2 then wrapped up the set on her own serve.
Australians in action today
Sloane Stephens (US) v Olivia Gadecki – 11am John Cain Arena
James McCabe v Alex Michelsen (US) – 11am Court three
Max Purcell v Máté Valkusz (HUN) – 12.15pm Show Court Arena
Jeļena Ostapenko (LAT) v Kimberly Birrell – 2.15pm Court three
Sebastian Ofner (AUT) v Thanasi Kokkinakis – 4pm John Cain Arena
Petra Martić (CRO) v Ajla Tomljanović – 7pm Rod Laver Arena
And the men’s and women’s doubles start today, including one all-Australian affair!
Gonzalo Escobar & Aleksandr Nedovyesov v Nuno Borges & Aleksandar Vukic – 1.40pm Court 14
Yulia Putintseva & Camila Osorio v Kateřina Siniaková & Storm Hunter – 2.15pm Court eight
Kaylah McPhee & Astra Sharma v Arina Rodionova & Taylah Preston – 4.20pm Court six
Preamble
Good morning! It’s another beautiful sunny day in Melbourne as we gear up for day three of the Australian Open. It’s about 27C currently and weather bureau says it will reach 30C later, so no doubt those misters will be working overtime at Melbourne Park.
There was plenty of action in the night session last night (you can relive that here), and there is a packed scheduled today with the final day of round one singles matches taking place and doubles starting.
In this day session, women’s world No 1 Iga Świątek will start her campaign against former champion Sofia Kenin. 11th-seed Casper Ruud takes on Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas. And Australians Olivia Gadecki, James McCabe and Max Purcell all play their first-round matches.
Let’s get into it!
