The big names – and (unfortunately) plenty of rain were a feature of Monday in Melbourne – but what did the first day of the first major of the season tell us? Plenty …
1. Naomi Osaka is more relaxed at her second Grand Slam title defence
In her first outing as a Grand Slam title defender at the US Open, Osaka exited in the fourth round to Belinda Bencic. The laid-back Melbourne vibe seems to suit her better. The No.3 seed powered through her opening round match, firing 29 winners in 18 games against Czech Marie Bouzkova.
“For me it’s really odd here,” Osaka said in her endearing sing-song voice. “I just feel really happy. I don’t have this mentality of ‘I’m defending’. New York, I don’t know if it’s the energy of the city, but it’s very ‘Go, go, go’. I felt very rushed. Everything was whirlwindy.”
2. It’s lucky 13 for Marton Fucsovics
The commando-fit Hungarian pulled off the first big upset of AO2020, edging No.13 seed Denis Shapovalov 6-3 6-7(7) 6-1 7-6(3) at Margaret Court Arena.
It was a wave of déjà vu for the world No.66. At AO2018, he also ejected the No.13 seed, Sam Querrey, and went on to his best major result – a fourth-round with sometime practice partner Roger Federer.
“This is my favourite Grand Slam,” said the buzzing 27-year-old. “I really like the atmosphere, the weather, the fans – they were amazing.”
Querrey, meanwhile, claimed an upset of his own this time, a 6-3 6-4 6-4 dismissal of No.25 seed Borna Coric. Both Shapovalov and Coric played in the ATP Cup, joining other national No.1 casualties in Alex De Minaur and Radu Albot (both late withdrawals) as well as Victor Troicki, who retired injured in qualifying.
3. Serena’s first trophy as a mum lost on Olympia
Following her breezy 6-0 6-3 opener over Anastasia Potapova, Serena Williams was happy to chat about her belated first title-win as a mother in Auckland. “It was amazing. Nice to win a tournament with a two-year-old, now,” she told the Rod Laver Arena crowd.
Serena had her magic mummy moment: clutching the trophy in one hand and toddler Olympia in the other. “It was special for me and I hope special for her. I try to tell her: ‘I’m somebody.’”
Alas, Olympia was more interested in her play dough than her mummy’s play. “I’m just known around town as Olympia’s mom,” Serena said of her domestic guise. “I just love that.”
4. Jannik Sinner has the attention of Roger Federer
One of the must-see players at Melbourne Park is Next Gen champion Sinner, who led Australia’s Max Purcell by two sets to love before play was suspended for rain.
The 18-year-old Italian is the youngest player in the top 300, currently No.79 with a bullet. A year ago, he was No.763.
Though he is yet to land his first win in a Grand Slam (he debuted at the US Open, losing to former champion Stan Wawrinka), there is plenty of interest in the red-headed stripling, given his predecessors as Next Gen champion – Stefanos Tsitsipas and Hyeon Chung – both were Melbourne Park semifinalists months later.
Federer, who hit with the youngster in Rome and Monte Carlo last year, gave Sinner a ringing endorsement as “an exciting guy and super sweet kid.”
5. Track suits aren’t what they used to be
Was that a leopard onesie Grigor Dimitrov wore onto the court? Or was the handsome Bulgarian peppered by bird-poop as he took a run on the St Kilda foreshore? Maybe he just lost a bet?
Whatever, Dimitrov’s Nike number is not your dad’s daggy parachute-silk track suit. The Bulgarian takes the early lead for the most-talked about fashion statement of AO2020. Brave.