Australian Open 2023 day one: Norrie through, Swiatek and Tsitsipas in action – live | Australian Open 2023

Niemeier, however, has started the second set strongly, breaking Swiatek! We’ve got a proper match on our hands here! It’s 2-1, with the German to serve.

Huge relief for Swiatek, as she closes out the first set against Niemeier, who saved one set point and then binned an easy volley into the net to gift the Pole the set.

Here’s a bit of reaction to Rafa Nadal’s thrilling win over Britain’s Jack Draper. He will meet Mackenzie McDonald in the second round after the American’s 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1), 1-6, 6-7 (10), 6-4 win against countryman Brandon Nakashima. Nadal had this to say in his post-match interview:

“Last year was without a doubt one of the most emotional tournaments of my tennis career. I’m super happy to be back here in Australia one more time. I know it’s my 19th season on the professional Tour.

I played against one of the toughest opponents possible in the first round, being seeded. He is young, he has the power and I think he has a great future in front [of him]. We are going to see him playing a lot of years here, having very good results.”

Britwatch: Harriet Dart is out, after falling in the first round to Jil Teichmann. The 26-year-old ran the Swiss close in the first set, losing it 7-5, but rather collapsed in the second, with Teichmann wrapping things up quickly 6-1.

Swiatek is making hard work of her first set against Niemeier. The Pole has just saved two break points to keep things on serve. It’s currently 4-3 to the world No 1.

In the second round, Tiafoe will meet Shang Juncheng, who made history here today, becoming the the first man from China to win an Australian Open match in the Open era. Sounds barely believable, doesn’t it? The youngest player in the men’s singles draw, Shang beat Germany’s Oscar Otte 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 to secure a victory.

With the victory, Shang also became the first 17-year-old to record a men’s singles Grand Slam win since Carlos Alcaraz at the 2021 Australian Open.

“After hearing this, I think it’s quite a big accomplishment,” Shang said. “Looking up to Carlos… he’s the best player in the world right now. Just watching him play on the court really inspires me, inspires the young players. So to do this, it’s very special for me.”

Outfit of the day so far goes to Frances Tiafoe, who came through in four sets against Daniel Altmaier of Germany.

Elsewhere, veteran Stan Wawrinka is in a right battle with Alex Molcan. The 2014 champion here is 2-1 up in sets against Alex Molcan, with the play on serve in the fourth.

Tsitsipas swept to the opening set 6-3 against Halys, but knows he’s in a match, 2-2 in the second set. But the Greek has been dominant with the ball in hand, losing just five points on serve in the entire match. And one of those was a double fault.

What qualifies as a success for Raducanu at the moment? She is still preposterously young, having just turned 20, and just being fit enough to play here after her recent injury problems is something of a win. There would be no shame to losing to Gauff but the hard court is her favourite surface so she will still be confident playing her American rival.

I’ve posted Tumaini’s report of Raducanu’s win already, but it’s worth flagging who the Brit will play in the second round: Coco Gauff. The pair have never met and Gauff has looked sharp, winning the ASB Classic in New Zealand (where she was No 1 seed) just over a week ago.

Niemeier races into a 30-0 lead before Swiatek claws things back to 40-30. A thundering forehand from the German punishes a weak second serve to get to deuce but a couple of sloppy errors gift the opening game to the world No 1. I would say Swiatek is looking a little tentative but still very early days.

Slightly off topic, but this is very good. Casper Ruud, one of the world’s best players, looks like a little boy here. Nadal won this French Open final in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0.

Swiatek’s match has been slightly delayed, but the world No 1 is coming out onto the court now. He’s playing Jule Niemeier, who is a big-serving German. They actually played in last year’s US Open round-of-16, and Niemeier won the opening set 6-2. Swiatek battles back to win, of course, on her way to beating Ons Jabeur in the final.

Tsitsipas is underway, playing the unseeded Quentin Halys. It’s about a 5km hop to the beach from the Margaret Court Arena to St Kilda Beach, and the Greek is strutting around the gaff in what appears to be some excellent board shorts. It’s currently on serve, Tsitsipas is 2-1 up and already hitting some monstrous forehands down towards the Frenchman.

Preamble