As Roger Federer, Caroline Wozniacki, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and four other former Grand Slam champions take to the court for second-round matches at AO 2019 on Wednesday, the star power couldn’t be stronger. Between them all, those accomplished superstars have amassed more than 50 major singles titles.
But each of those seasoned competitors understands that past success offers no guarantees of future victories – particularly given the talented young stars targeting important career firsts of their own.
Many eyes will be on Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur – champion and runner-up respectively at the ATP Next Gen Finals last November – as they each build on their remarkable rise.
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Tsitsipas showcased a maturity beyond his 20 years as he outclassed Matteo Berrettini, recovering from a first-set deficit to become the first Greek man to win a main draw Australian Open match. “I'm happy I stayed calm, stayed aggressive,” said Tsitsipas. “(I) didn't think too much of what the score is … making him feel the pressure.”
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The world No.15 will aim to do the same in a first career meeting with Serbia’s Viktor Troicki, a world No.200-ranked qualifier who at age 32, is playing his 11th Australian Open.
Coming so soon after lifting his first ATP trophy in Sydney on Saturday, De Minaur’s first-round progression was arguably even more impressive. A straight-sets winner over Pedro Sousa, the 19-year-old Australian now faces Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen.
“This is my second time in the second round. I think I'm a completely different player from a couple years ago,” said De Minaur, who exited at the same stage in 2017 to Sam Querrey. “(I’m) really looking forward to going out there, coming back, just having fun. I think that's the main thing.”
It’s an approach that the similarly-touted Frances Tiafoe will target as he faces fifth seed Kevin Anderson. While he’s yet to win against Anderson in three matches to date, the American is one of only four players aged 20 or under in the ATP’s top 50 (with Denis Shapovalov, De Minaur and Tsitsipas) and quickly adding to his growing record.
So, too, are some fast-rising young women. The 20-year-old Aryna Sabalenka, who is verging on a top 10 debut, will aim to continue her rapid progress against world No.97 Katie Boulter in the pair’s first match on tour.
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Ash Barty is also working up to more impressive career firsts. Following a second consecutive runner-up finish in Sydney, the 22-year-old Australian took less than an hour to outclass Luksika Kumkhum in her AO2019 opener, adding confidence for her second-round assignment with world No.65 Wang Yafan.
Accomplished champions will work hard to protect their turf. Federer aims to continue a winning record against Daniel Evans, after his win over the Brit at Wimbledon in 2016. Nadal also takes a winning record into a second match against Australian Matt Ebden, who he defeated at Queen’s in 2011.
Marin Cilic, the third male Grand Slam champion competing on Day 3, faces 81st-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald for the first time.
Major-winning women will equally welcome the winning records they take into the second round. Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has a 3-0 lead over Irina-Camelia Begu, while Sloane Stephens defeated Timea Babos in their only other match on tour.
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Wozniacki faces Johanna Larsson in their maiden tour match-up, Angelique Kerber meets first-time opponent and fellow left-hander Beatriz Haddad Maia, while Sharapova will become acquainted with Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson for the first time.
It’s a fascinating mix of established superstars and fast-rising contenders – and a powerful reminder that for every player who’s claimed a Grand Slam, there’s another who has that same silverware in sight.