There were big names in action as far as the eye could see on a humdinger of a Monday at Melbourne Park as Australian Open 2025 burst into life.
One of the big stories on Day 2 came early, when the men’s draw lost 11th seed and former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas at John Cain Arena.
It was young American Alex Michelsen who delivered the shock to outplay the 2023 runner-up 7-5 6-3 2-6 6-4.
Plenty of men’s singles title contenders survived their opening tests however on a schedule that included world No.1 Jannik Sinner, four-time major winner Carlos Alcaraz and 10-time AO champion Novak Djokovic.
Defending champion Sinner still hasn’t lost a single set since his run to the Shanghai Masters title in early October 2024, but had to negotiate a tricky test against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry 7-6(2) 7-6(5) 6-1.
Alcaraz is hoping to complete his set of Grand Slam titles over the next fortnight and, a second-set wobble apart, was a comfortable winner over Alexander Shevchenko 6-1 7-5 6-1.
Djokovic’s bid for a record 25th major looked like it might be in danger when he lost the first set against 19-year-old American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy before recovering to win in four sets in front of his new coach Andy Murray.
American Frances Tiafoe had one of the toughest days on court of anyone when he survived cramps and a bout of on-court vomiting before surviving in five sets against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.
Briton Jack Draper and former semifinalist Tommy Paul were another two seeded players who had to go the distance before securing second-round spots.
There wasn’t such good news for 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov or Nick Kyrgios, however, the latter questioning whether he will return to play singles at Melbourne Park after a straight-sets defeat to Scot Jacob Fearnley. Dimitrov was forced out of his opening match with a hip injury early in the second set.
In the women’s draw, third seed Coco Gauff made a strong start to her bid for a first Australian Open crown against fellow American Sofia Kenin.
The woman one spot higher in the seedings – Poland’s five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek – was happy to put a tricky first round test behind her as she beat Czech Katerina Siniakova.
American seventh seed Jessica Pegula, compatriot Danielle Collins and – at well after midnight local time – former two-time champion Naomi Osaka also secured safe passages into the second round.
A couple of special results were produced by Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and Swiss Belinda Bencic.
The ever-popular Svitolina won her first match back since undergoing foot surgery last autumn to see off Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-4, while Bencic converted her sixth match point to beat 16th seed Jelena Ostapenko in her first Grand Slam match since maternity leave.
The locals went home happy too after a number of Aussie success stories around the grounds on Monday, nine locals winning through to round two.
One of the most remarkable saw qualifier Destanee Aiava save two match points to fight past Belgian Greet Minnen in a dramatic battle on Court 3.
The world No.195 was a set and 5-2 down before eventually recording her first win at her home major 5-7 7-5 7-6(5).
Fellow Australians Jordan Thompson, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Ajla Tomljanovic, James Duckworth, Talia Gibson, James McCabe, Tristan Schoolkate and Aleksandar Vukic all progressed on a big day for the green and gold.