On a day where the top Aussie male Nick Kyrgios withdrew from the Australian Open, a pair of his compatriots did the host nation proud at Melbourne Park.
John Millman, the battling veteran, and Rinky Hijikata, in his first ever Australian Open, both prevailed in five-set epics with the latter coming from two sets down to claim a famous victory.
In the day session Jason Kubler ended his 12-year wait for a main draw win at his home grand slam while the Ash Barty-inspired Olivia Gadecki won through in straight sets.
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DAY 1 WRAP: TWO AUSSIES THROUGH AS 12-YEAR WAIT FINALLY ENDS
Hijikata needed almost four and a half hours to prevail over Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann and set up a showdown with Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round.
The Aussie stormed back into the match in front of a loud Court 8 crowd. A 71-minute fourth set ended in a thrilling tiebreak going the local’s way, before a rollercoaster fifth.
Hijikata had the best break opportunity early in the decider but Hanfmann served consecutive aces from 15-40 and served it out for 2-2.
Then it was the German’s turn to threaten a break, with an epic fifth game seeing multiple chances for him to get on top – but a pair of unforced errors threw them away.
At 3-2, Hijikata won a point he had no right to claim thanks to a remarkable return and Hanfmann error for 30-40 and a break opportunity. He then butchered a return which dribbled over the net and could not be returned, earning a 4-2 lead.
A raucous crowd cheered him home, and the pressure built with Hijikata double-faulting on the second of two initial match points. But he immediately bounced back to serve out a famous 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 triumph.
“I’m lost for words. That was mental. I was – I don’t know, I don’t really know what to say at the moment,” Hijikata said on Nine post-match.
“I couldn’t have done it without the support today. I’m so grateful for everyone coming out. That is the most fun match I’ve ever played in my life.”
Earlier Millman used his trademark grit to survive a five-set thriller against Swiss Marc-Andrea Huesler, 6-7(8) 7-5 6-7(2) 6-2 6-3.
The Aussie led 5-0 in the opening set tiebreak before dropping it 10-8, and led 5-2 in the third set before losing it in another tiebreak.
But Millman kept fighting in front of a heavily partisan crowd and forced a deciding set which he claimed after more than four hours’ play – though it took his third match point to clinch it.
It was Millman’s third win in 12 career five-setters, and his second win at that length at the Australian Open.
Millman will face Daniil Medvedev in the second round.
WORLD NO.1 FORCED TO FIGHT AS EX-CHAMP OUT
The dominant Australian Open women’s favourite and the man who was two sets up in last year’s final have begun their Melbourne Park campaigns tonight.
But things weren’t so simple for Polish world No.1 Iga Swiatek.
She was made to work for her opening round win at the Australian Open, prevailing in two tight sets against big-hitting German Jule Niemeier.
The reigning French Open and US Open champion took a hard-fought first set 6-4, but Niemeier was undaunted, keeping points short and taking control in the second set.
After going ahead by a break in the second set, Niemeier faced trouble serving at 4-3, but staved off trouble to move ahead to 5-3.
Both players pounded the ball in several engrossing rallies, but Niemeier looked determined to win or lose points on her own terms.
More errors began to flow from Niemeier’s racquet when she served for the set at 5-4, however, with Swiatek pouncing to draw level before holding to love to move ahead 6-5.
Niemeier was pressed once more on her serve, with Swiatek converting a match point at 30-40 to pull through in straight sets.
“It’s such a huge psychological advantage as well, for me – matches like these send a message to the locker room because everyone is watching, but she’s still fighting so hard for the second set,” Jelena Dokic said on Nine.
“Never gives up. She wasn’t comfortable, she could have easily lost the second set, but she fought hard for it, that is why she’s the world number one.”
It’s the second time in as many majors the 23-year-old Niemeier has caused Swiatek problems, taking the first set in last year’s US Open clash before ultimately losing in a decider.
Following their clash on centre court, Daniil Medvedev – a back-to-back finalist at this event – began his quest to go a step further against American Marcus Giron.
It was an imposing start with a first set bagel before Giron finally got on the board in the second – but it was a brief respite from the Russian’s dominance.
Medvedev cruised 6-0 6-1 6-2 and set up a clash with Aussie John Millman.
His only issue was just before match point when he received a code violation for audible obscenity, cursing out a fan who was talking as he tried to serve.
Also in action tonight were Greece’s No.3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, promising No.6 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, plus last year’s semi-finalist and women’s No.10 seed Madison Keys.
Tsitsipas was comfortable against France’s Quentin Halys early but the third set was a battle, seeing him save four set points to force a tiebreak, then coming back from 3-0 down to claim it and the match, 6-3 6-4 7-6(6).
Auger-Aliassime’s clash with compatriot Vasek Pospisil began in bizarre fashion, with the sixth seed barely firing a shot as he quickly fell behind.
It took Pospisil just under 40 minutes to take the opening set 6-1, threatening a huge boilover on John Cain Arena, though Auger-Aliassime fought his way to consecutive tiebreak wins, 7-6(4) 7-6(3).
Keys had to overcome a horrendous run of unforced errors but was powerful enough to get past Russia’s Anna Blinkova, 6-4 3-6 6-2.
Meanwhile Stan Wawrinka was knocked out in a five-setter against Alex Molcan, having served for the match in the fourth set, 6-7(3) 6-3 1-6 7-6(2) 4-6.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2023
Night 1 Order Of Play
Rod Laver Arena
Night session from 7pm
[1] Iga Swiatek (POL) def Jule Niemeier (GER) 6-4 7-5
[7] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) def Marcus Giron (USA) 6-0 6-1 6-2
Show Court 1
Night session from 7pm
[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) def Quentin Halys (FRA) 6-3 6-4 7-6(6)
[10] Madison Keys (USA) def Anna Blinkova (RUS) 6-4 3-6 6-2
John Cain Arena
Night session not before 6pm
[6] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) def Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 1-6 7-6(4) 7-6(3) 6-3
Aussies in action
Kia Arena, Match 4
Xinyu Wang (CHN) def Storm Hunter (AUS) 7-6(2) 6-4
Court 3, Match 4
John Millman (AUS) def Marc-Andrea Huesler (SWI) 6-7(8) 7-5 6-7(2) 6-2 6-3
Court 8, Match 4
Rinky Hijikata (AUS) def Yannick Hanfmann (GER) 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3
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