The first round of any Grand Slam is always spoken about with a certain element of trepidation.
The Australian Open 2021 action started on Monday with some scintillating matches, despite challenges for the players in preparation.
Whether it was warm-up matches or practice sessions, everything has been condensed this year due to the worldwide pandemic, but this is where champion instincts kick in.
Somehow the elite, major champions clicked into gear on Monday, hitting the ground running and looking sharp.
Take Serena Williams. The seven-time champion has 23 majors to her name and knows how to approach the Grand Slam gauntlet.
"This was a good start. Definitely vintage 'Rena,” the 39-year-old American said following a 6-1, 6-1 victory over German Laura Siegemund. Injury concerns cast aside for now.
"It's definitely good. I think I'm pretty good at pacing myself in a Grand Slam.”
Williams applied the pressure by completing 90 percent of returns, converting six of nine break opportunities and clinching 80 percent of points off her serve. Not much room for error there for Siegemund.
"Last year was very crazy for the world, and to be able to do what I love and to be able to come out and compete and play at a Grand Slam, after the last 12 months, it makes me appreciate the moment even more."
Serena and co are cherishing being back at The Happy Slam, determined to make the most of this chance. Serena set the bar high.
World No.1 Novak Djokovic put on “flawless” display to dismiss Jeremy Chardy to the loss of six games.
The stats only tell half the story, but they are ominous for his title rivals.
The defending champion lost just nine points on serve, didn’t offer up a break chance, clattered away 41 winners (just 11 unforced errors) and was particularly effective transferring up the court with 18/24 success rate at the net.
It was a tennis clinic, but that’s just a working day for the world’s best.
“You are expected to win most of the times as a top player and kind of ease your way through the first rounds, but I don't see it that way. Still have to do your job on the court,” explained the 17-time Grand Slam champion.
The world No.1 enjoyed four matches at the ATP Cup last week, feeling that the basics were there for AO 2021. It’s about adapting and repeating at the top.
“I try to memorise that (feeling comfortable mid-match), have kind of a muscle memory. I think every time you experience something, it's there. So it's up to you whether you are able to bring it out from the box again in the next encounter,” mused the top seed, offering a fascinating insight to his approach.
“It's not always possible to feel aligned or kind of in the zone every single match. I feel like you always have to adapt and really be flexible. Because in the moments when match can go either way, that's where you really go back to the basics and what feels right for you.”
Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek found the groove in a 6-1, 6-3 passage past Arantxa Rus
It represented a solid platform for the fifteenth seed, who blocked out her own spiralling thoughts by singing in her head ‘It Takes Two’ by Marvin Gaye.
"I could talk for, like, 20 minutes, but... Maybe I made some decisions that weren't perfect, but it's also first match of the tournament. I hope I'm going to be playing better and better next round,” stated the 19-year-old.
Not the most polished performance, but efficient. 5/17 break points converted, 16-17 winners to unforced errors ratio, but then 72 percent first serves in and 82 percent returns made.
Plenty of room for progress and the teenager knows it, fully aware of the demands on the major stage.
“My goal is to be consistent. For me I'm really happy I play efficient on Grand Slam. I try to treat every match the same way, but it's different on Grand Slams.”
Nerves are obviously a consideration. US Open winner Dominic Thiem put in a patient performance to overcome veteran Mikhail Kukushkin in straight sets.
Although the Austrian struck 29 winners (27 unforced errors), Thiem also squandered several chances with a 7/20 break point conversion rate. The 27-year-old did impress canvassing the net with a 17/21 success rate.
Finding a way was the message, when not quite in the groove.
“I felt nerves because it was a long time until the slam, more than three weeks from when we arrived to Adelaide. It was amazing that we could practice, but three weeks is a long time, and if I practice too many days in a row, I start to play worse instead of better,” admitted the world No.3. “So I really had to find the right balance.”
Fellow US Open champion Naomi Osaka didn’t sleep much over the weekend, but still prevailed 6-1, 6-2 facing the experienced Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
“I kind of expected that because I always want to do well in slams. I never want to lose in the first round,” said the 2019 champion at Melbourne Park.
The stats were clean with 18 winners, no double faults, 5/7 break points taken.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself that way. I feel like whatever ranking you are, if you're seeded, you feel like you have to win, but you have to overcome that feeling.”
Now with the opening round cleared, these key contenders are already in the groove, or have the perspective on how to progress. They’re only looking forward now.