Australian Open: Returning Osaka, in-form Murray function in gripping first-round clashes

Now that the motion within the Federal Court of Australia is over, consideration will flip in direction of the relayed blue floor at Melbourne Park. With Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal, World No 150 Salvatore Caruso takes up the highest seed spot and can face Miomir Kecmanovic. But away from the large names and the Big 3, there are a bunch of gripping first-round clashes within the draw of the 12 months’s first Major.
MEN’S SINGLES
Aces galore
This is the battle between two ‘servebots,’ when 6-foot-11 Opelka performs 6-foot-8 Anderson. The ‘shorter’ South African is seventh on the record of most aces – 7,600 in 591 matches – whereas Opelka has hit 2,512 (he’s 24, in order that quantity is certain to go up). Their video games aren’t nearly hitting aces. Anderson is a former World No 5 and two-time Grand Slam finalist. Opelka is ranked 25, and at the moment on the upswing with a much-improved baseline sport. They have the calibre to placed on an entertaining present. But don’t anticipate too many lengthy rallies.

🇬🇧 @andy_murray brings the warmth off the courtroom 💥#AusOpen • #AO2022 • #AOStyle pic.twitter.com/x0bobbJcu0
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2022
In-form Murray
Former World No 1 Andy Murray wanted a wild card to get a principal draw spot. But the World No 135 has began to regain the shape that noticed him win three Grand Slam titles.
On Saturday reached his first ATP ultimate since 2019, shedding to final 12 months’s Australian Open’s shock bundle Aslan Karatsev. But in his first look on the Australian Open since 2019, he’ll face the hard-hitting Nikoloz Basilashvili. It’ll be their second assembly in as many weeks.

Please take your seats, the present is about to start 🎬🎾#AusOpen • #AO2022 • #AOStars pic.twitter.com/fXz9G09P80
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2022
Younger younger weapons
Bringing up a second technology, maybe, of the NextGen are 22-year-old Alex De Minaur and 19-year-old Lorenzo Musetti. It’s nonetheless early of their careers, however they’ve each confirmed their mettle. Australian De Minaur, ranked 34, is quick and dogged. Over the years he’s change into extra aggressive in his method and loves competing on dwelling soil. Musetti in the meantime had a breakthrough season final 12 months. He’s obtained spectacular vary and selection, particularly with that thumping one-handed backhand. And he loves taking part in on the large stage.
WOMEN’S SINGLES
Raducanu vs Stephens
Emma Raducanu’s tennis profession reached its pinnacle – for now, don’t neglect she’s British and so is Wimbledon – when she was the shock winner of the US Open final 12 months. Starting that marketing campaign as a qualifier, no much less. But the upswing to her profession hasn’t precisely continued since then. In the 4 tournaments she’s performed since that evening in New York, she misplaced three within the opening spherical. Her first look within the Australian Open now is not going to be any simpler as she performs a former US Open winner Sloane Stephens in what is well the largest tie within the first spherical – throughout attracts.

2015 semifinalist v 2020 champion 🍿
An all-American battle you don’t wish to miss on Day 1 of #AO2022.
Who advances to the second spherical on the #AusOpen?
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2022
All-American affair
Former Australian Open champion Sophia Kenin and 2017 US Open finalist Madison Keys have had higher days on tour. Both are former high 10 gamers, however whereas Kenin continues to be at a good 12, she didn’t have an excellent second half to 2020. In truth, she didn’t play in any respect post-Wimbledon, testing optimistic for Covid forward of the US Open. Keys in the meantime, a former World No 7, has slipped right down to 87. But she’s made a brilliant begin this 12 months by successful the Adelaide International this week.

Will reigning champion @naomiosaka defend her #AusOpen title? 🏆 #AO2022 • #AOStars • #Rewind pic.twitter.com/Xv49capjjq
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2022

Defending champion returns
Naomi Osaka has not had a nice run on tour since revealing her psychological well being points on the French Open final 12 months. She performed solely on the Olympics, Cincinnati Masters and US Open after the clay Slam, skipping Wimbledon. This 12 months although, she has been undefeated up to now, albeit she did withdraw from the semi-final of the tune-up occasion in Melbourne after an stomach damage. She’s since claimed that she’s recovered and able to defend her title. She will play Colombian teen Camila Osorio.