Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and sixth seed Casper Ruud rallied to advance to the second round of the Australian Open on Sunday as storms wreaked havoc before Aryna Sabalenka began her quest to win a historic third consecutive crown.
Zheng, the fifth seed and last year’s losing finalist, had the honor of playing the first point on Center Court in the first Grand Slam of the season against 110th-ranked Anca Todoni of Romania.
She won 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena, but was rusty after opting out of a warm-up event.
Zheng had three set points on her own serve at 5-3 in the first set, but allowed Todoni to come back strongly before closing her out in the tie-break and then racing in the second set.
“The first match is still not easy,” she said.
“I’m just happy to get through the match, the tie-break and find my rhythm.”
The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2024 thanks to her exploits at the Australian Open which propelled her to Olympic gold – beating Iga Swiatek along the way – and three WTA titles.
While Zheng was able to play, action on the outdoor courts at Melbourne Park was halted barely an hour after it began when storms arrived and turned the sky black.
Thunder and lightning saw players and fans rushing for cover, with heavy rain lashing Melbourne Park a headache for organizers who face a delay in matches.
No broadcast was scheduled until 6:30 p.m. (07:30 GMT) at the earliest.
Only the three main stadiums – Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena – have a roof.
Norway’s Ruud said before the event that playing better at Grand Slams was on his agenda this year after a disappointing 2024 at majors.
But he will need to improve his game to go further in Melbourne after an up-and-down 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 victory over 106th-ranked Spaniard Jaume Munar.
“It was just a really tough game,” he said.
Japanese veteran Kei Nishikori also completed a five-set marathon, saving two match points to beat Brazilian Thiago Monteiro 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 in 4h 6min.
“I almost gave up at match point,” said Nishikori, who is close to returning after spending years on the sidelines due to major hip surgery and a back injury. ankle.
“But somehow I managed to get through it.”
Mirra Andreeva was the first player to advance to the second round, the Russian, seeded 14th, beating Czech Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-3.
The 17-year-old reached the fourth round in Melbourne last year and will be hoping to improve on that performance.
“Honestly, it was a little hard for me when they started closing the roof (mid-match),” said Andreeva, coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez.
“I am very happy today to have played in a stadium with a roof.”
18th-seeded Croatian Donna Vekic also advanced.
– Offer of a hat-trick –
Belarusian world number one Sabalenka will headline the evening session at Rod Laver Arena in a potentially tricky encounter with 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens.
Men’s second seed Alexander Zverev closes the first night against dangerous Frenchman Lucas Pouille, who reached the semi-finals in 2019 before losing to future champion Novak Djokovic.
Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman since Martina Hingis (1997-99) to win three consecutive Australian Opens.
If she wins the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup again, Sabalenka will join a select group of Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Hingis as the only women to have completed a hat-trick in Melbourne.
“I hope that at the end of this tournament I can write my name in history,” she said.
Sabalenka won the Brisbane International early on and recognizes she is the woman to beat after the best season of her career in 2024, where she also won a first US Open.
“It’s what motivates me and helps me stay motivated because I know I have a goal on my back and I really enjoy having it,” she said.
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