Novak Djokovic survived a scare in his quest for tennis history before joining Carlos Alcaraz and defending champion Jannik Sinner in the second round of the Australian Open on Monday.
But home favourite Nick Kyrgios will not join them as the combustible Australian failed to clear the first hurdle, swearing and in pain.
In the women's draw, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff powered through with minimum fuss as they seek to dethrone two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Another winner was two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka, who defeated France's Caroline Garcia 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Same court. Same opponent. Different result 👏
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
After losing to Caroline Garcia last year in the first round, Naomi Osaka flips the script this year to move into the second round! @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/RQ8594jpMl
On a blockbuster second day in Melbourne, Djokovic lost the first set to 107th-ranked American Nishesh Basavareddy in the prime-time evening match on Rod Laver Arena.
But the Serbian great, hoping to roll back the years and win an 11th Australian Open and record 25th Grand Slam singles title, recovered to pull through 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
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Djokovic was animated at the end and struggled to raise a smile.
"At the end it was great but I think he was the better player for a set and a half," said the 37-year-old.
Praise doesn't get much higher 🤝@DjokerNole is full of admiration for Nishesh following their first round encounter 🫡#AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/mIDltHGWfD
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
Italian world No 1 Sinner was playing under a cloud after twice testing positive for traces of a steroid in March.
He denies wrongdoing and was cleared by tennis authorities, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) appealed and is seeking to ban him for up to two years.
Sinner was warmly welcomed on Rod Laver Arena before defeating Chile's Nicolas Jarry 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.
15th consecutive win. 14th consecutive straight sets win.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
World No.1 @janniksin continues his breathtaking form in Melbourne! 😮💨@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/VRiYaCeZxY
"I was curious to see how it was. You never know what's happening," he said about the reception.
"I was happy about the crowd," said Sinner, who has not tasted defeat since losing to Alcaraz in the Beijing final in October.
Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion but never a winner in Melbourne, had a couple of hairy moments before seeing off the challenge of Kazakhstan's Alexander Shevchenko, 6-1, 7-5, 6-1.
100% in Grand Slam first rounds 💯
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
Carlos Alcaraz continues his perfect record with a straight sets win over Shevchenko! 🤩@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/zHiyv1sBMv
"This is a tournament I really want to win one day, hopefully this year," said the 21-year-old Spaniard.
There was disappointment however for home fans as the colourful but temperamental Kyrgios, only recently back from 18 months out with injury, lost 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) to Britain's Jacob Fearnley.
In control from go to woah, Jacob Fearnley gets the better of Nick Kyrgios 7-6(3) 6-3 7-6(2)
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
Onto the next one, Jacob!@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/N6OY3jSM1J
Kyrgios spoke to physios multiple times in the second set after wincing in pain while serving and fired expletives at his coaching box.
TSITSIPAS FALLS
Earlier, the 11th-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first major casualty when Alex Michelsen blasted past him 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
The 26-year-old Greek, who played Djokovic in the 2023 final at Melbourne Park, never looked comfortable against the 42nd-ranked American.
Defeating a Top 20 player at a Grand Slam for the first time ✅
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
Handing Tsitsipas consecutive 1st round losses in Grand Slams✅
All at 20 ✅
What a star, Alex Michelsen@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/L22eV5UGqf
"It just sucks in a way that I'll be hanging around for quite a while now before my next tournament comes in," said Tsitsipas.
Two-time US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe vomited twice on court before pulling through in five sets against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.
GAUFF SENDS WARNING
The women's draw provided few upsets on day two.
Red-hot world No 3 Gauff laid down a marker as she swept aside former Melbourne champion and fellow American Sofia Kenin.
Gauff is unbeaten this year after leading the US to United Cup glory and eased past the 2020 Australian Open winner 6-3, 6-3 in 80 minutes.
Through in ✌️
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
No.3 seed @CocoGauff is off to a winning start in Melbourne defeating fellow American Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-3 🇺🇸@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/D41qDYgRli
"I knew it was going to be difficult, but you know, I'm happy with how I played," said Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion.
Women's world No 2 Swiatek defeated Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-4 to get her tournament up and running.
Iga gets it done in straight sets, defeating Siniakova 6-3 6-4 👏👏 @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • @iga_swiatek • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/mzN0hEqfUQ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
The Pole has won five Grand Slams but her best performance at Melbourne Park is the semifinals in 2022.
"For sure it wasn't an easy first round, so I'm happy that I'm through," said Swiatek.
Victoria Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 champion, was a notable early loser as the Belarusian went down 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) to Italy's Lucia Bronzetti.
US Open finalist Jessica Pegula, the seventh-seeded American, blew away home player Maya Joint 6-3, 6-0.
A great day for #BillsMafia gets better!@JPegula defeats Maya Joint 6-3 6-0 to rattle into the second round.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
How we feeling, @BuffaloBills?@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/LHcmPX1oEX