Former Australian Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas is out of the tournament (Image: Getty)
There were the first British victories and the first big shock of the today.
Jodie Burrage won an emotional first match in Melbourne after overcoming injuries to set up a glamour second-round tie with .
And lucky loser Harriet Dart saved two match points before reaching the second round after a match tiebreak.
But former finalist Stefanos Tsitispas crashed out in the first round – and two-time champion Victoria Azarenka is also out
World No.2 and defending champion both reached the second round without dropping a set as the sun returned to Melbourne after Sunday’s heavy rain.
, and Nick Kyrgios – who faces British No.3 Jacob Fearnley – are all in action on Monday night in Melbourne.
, and Cam Norrie play on Tuesday.
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Burrage’s “happy tears”
The former British No.2 missed six months last season – and considered quitting the sport – after wrist and ankle ligament injuries.
But Burrage returned to Grand Slam action to beat world No.149 Leolia Jeanjean 6-2 6-4 on Court 13 before breaking down in tears.
The Londoner, 25, said: “It was definitely one of the best wins of my career, and I think the emotion that came out after showed that. There was a lot of hard work that went into today. All of those emotions from the last nine months I think, yeah, were bottled up in there.
“They were happy tears. And grateful once that net cord went over. A bit lucky with that. It’s also just the start. I feel like I have more belief and confidence in myself, and I feel like that showed today. I feel like it’s the start of a good year for me.’
Harriet Dart made the most of her last-minute call-up (Image: Getty)
Fortune favours the brave for lucky loser Dart
British No.4 lost in the final round of qualifying but was given a last-minute ticket to the first Major of the season when former champion Marketa Vondrousova pulled out injured.
The world No.112 took the first set off Jana Fett – and led 3-1 in the decider – but looked set for defeat when the Croatian twice served for the match at 5-4 and 6-5. And Dart, who was playing with her left calf strapped, needed to save two match points to force a 10-point match tiebreak on Court 12.
The fan raced into a 6-0 before taking her third match point to win 7-5 2-6 6-7 in three hours and 14 minutes. She held her left thigh after the win. There were 19 breaks of serve and 42 break points in the match.
Vondrousova, who was wearing heavy strapping on her thigh ahead of the tournament, wrote on social media: “Heartbroken to withdraw from the due to an injury I sustained in Adelaide. I was looking forward to the tournament but health comes first. Thank you for your support and hopefully see you on court soon.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas claimed ‘karma hit me’ after his first-round loss (Image: Getty)
Tsitisipas’ bad “karma” at his favourite event
The Greek star made his name here in 2019 when he beat on the way to the semi-finals – and he lost to in the 2023 final.
He even pulled out of the doubles with his brother Petros before the first Major of the year to concentrate on the singles.
But Tsitsipas went out 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 to American No.41 seed Alex Michelsen – and has won only one match in his last three Majors after also losing in the first round in New York
“It’s quite ironic,” said the three-time semi-finalist here. “My whole role was to try to go deep into the . I knew the first thing I had to consider was not to play doubles.
“I guess karma hit me. I was not able to deliver or play the way I was hoping to at this year’s event. The whole purpose was just to save up on some energy and be fresher hopefully in the deeper draw of the tournament.”
Iga Swiatek made a winning start in Melbourne (Image: Getty)
Azarenka out
The Belarusian won back-to-back titles here in 2012 and 2013 but now 35, she went out 6-2 7-6 to Lucia Bronzetti on Kia Arena.
The Italian world No.76 said: “I feel very excited and proud to be in the second round, and to win against such a great player, I didn’t expect to play like that. I think that I played really good, so I’m very happy.”
Iga can be a big noise here
The five-time Major winner began her bid to win her first title – and possibly return to world No.1 – by beating world No.46 Katerina Siniakova 6-3 6-4.
The Pole revealed her new “personalised” headphones were “probably the best gift I got at Christmas
The music lover is a huge fan of Pearl Jam but listens to “mostly AC-DC and Led Zeppelin” as she walks out on court.
“I don’t listen to rock all the time – I wouldn’t be able to sleep,” Swiatek laughed. “Only before a match.”
World No.1 beat Nicolas Jarry 7-6 7-6 6-1.