Stunt in Melbourne: defending champion Sofia Kenin is absent | Tennis

Kenin especially struggled with the hard serve of the world number 65, who closed the match with his tenth ace of the match. She reached the third round in Melbourne for the third time in her career.

The US world number 4 won the Australian Open last year, beating Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruza in straight sets in the final. It was his first Grand Slam victory.

Ashleigh Barty, Australia’s number 1 on the field goal list, reached the third round. She started well against her compatriot Daria Gavrilova and easily won the first set 6-1. In the second set Barty made a lot of unnecessary mistakes and dropped the tie. She ultimately won it 9-7.

Svitolina prevents another stunt from teen Gauff

Elina Svitolina prevented another stunt from Cori Gauff, one of last year’s tournament revelations, in the second round of the Australian Open. He became 6-4 6-3 for the Ukrainian number 5 on the placement list.

Talented teenager Gauff caused a sensation in Melbourne last year, beating Naomi Osaka in the third round after Venus Williams in the first round. She ultimately lost in the fourth round. In 2019, she also reached this stage at Wimbledon, where she broke through a year and a half ago.

Another high-profile victory was not possible this time around for the 16-year-old world number 48. She never won Svitolina’s serve game and gave up her own serve once in straight sets.

Svitolina, ten years older, is aiming for her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open. In Melbourne she has made the last eight games twice, at Wimbledon and the US Open she has already reached the semi-final.

Wesley Koolhof wins

Doubles specialist Wesley Koolhof secured a place in the second round of the Australian Open with his Polish partner Lukasz Kubot. Koolhof and Kubot were in Melbourne 6-3 6-4 too strong for Ariel Behar of Uruguay and Ecuadorian Gonzalo Escobar.

This is the first Grand Slam tournament for the Koolhof / Kubot duo, ranked fourth. Koolhof formed a couple last year with Nikola Mektic of Croatia, but that collaboration ended late last year.

In the next round, Koolhof and Kubot could face Nick Kyrgios, who will form a duet with his compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis. The Australians must first beat South African Lloyd Harris and Julian Knowle of Austria.

As the Australian Open approached, Koolhof / Kubot lost in one of the quarterfinal preparation tournaments.

Robin Haase finished in Melbourne

For Robin Haase, the Australian Open doubles is over after one round. Together with Austrian tennis player Oliver Marach, he had to recognize his superiority over Norwegian Casper Ruud and Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia. He became 6-3 1-6 6-0. The three sets lasted only 74 minutes.

Haase reached the doubles final at the Australian Open in 2013, but after that he won just two matches in seven appearances.

In women’s doubles, Arantxa Rus managed to pass the first round with her Slovenian partner Tamara Zidansek. Rus and Zidansek were 6-1 6-7 (5) 7-5 too strong for American Alison Riske and Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia.

In the second round, Russian compatriot Rosalie van der Hoek, who forms a duet with Bernarda Pera of the United States on her Grand Slam debut.

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