Initially it looked good for Rus who won the first set 6-3. She had to leave the second company to her Slovenian opponent with the same numbers, which meant that it came down to a decisive third set.
In this, Rus faced a 3-5 deficit, but showed that she has a dose of perseverance. She survived three match points and won three games in a row to take a 6-5 lead. Zidask then straightened her back and pulled out a decisive tiebreak. In the exciting tiebreak, Rus quickly faced a 5-0 deficit, but she kept fighting. She won three points in a row and not much later she even led 7-6. But after 2 hours and 27 minutes, Zidask finally used her fourth game point.
She also got stuck in the opening round in the last six grand slams that Rus played. She last won a match on the highest podium at the Australian Open in 2020. At a lower level, Rus has been a lot more successful in recent years.
Murray continues after epic fight
Andy Murray has qualified for the second round after a thrilling match. The Scot was too strong for Nikoloz Basilashvili after a wonderful tennis fight in five sets: 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4.
The former number one in the world and the Georgian treated the audience to a wonderful tennis fight. After a real battle of wear and tear, Murray, who had been admitted to the main tournament with a wild card, stepped off the track as the winner.
Daniil Medvedev has a hard time one set
Daniil Medvedev has made an excellent start to the Australian Open. The Russian, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the final last year, settled in the first round with the Swiss Henri Laaksonen 6-1 6-4 7-6 (3).
Only in the last act did Medvedev have some problems with the number 91 in the world. But with four points in a row, the tiebreak became a prey for the Russian. Within 2 hours he had the victory.
Daniil Medvedev in action.
Ⓒ HH/ANP
In the second round, Medvedev may face Australian Nick Kyrgios, who first meets Englishman Liam Broady. “If you broadcast that match, I will definitely see what they show,” said the world number 2 with a smile.
Medvedev is the highest placed player in the men’s tournament after the withdrawal of title holder Djokovic.
Former finalist Kvitova already eliminated
Former finalist Petra Kvitova has already been eliminated in the first round. The Czech tennis star won just four games against Romanian Sorana Cirstea. It became 6-2 6-2 for the number 38 in the world.
The 31-year-old Kvitova was placed 20th this year. She reached the final battle in Melbourne in 2019. She lost in the final to Japan’s Naomi Osaka three years ago.
Last year, Kvitova, two-time Wimbledon champion, already performed poorly in the grand slams. She never got past the third round.
Third-seeded Garbiñe Muguruza, who in turn reached the final in 2020, did win her first match. In the Rod Laver Arena, the Spanish was too strong for the French Clara Burel in two sets: 6-3 6-4. Muguruza led 5-2 in the second set and only used her fifth game point, on Burel’s service.
Ruud withdraws from Australian Open
Norwegian tennis player Casper Ruud will not play at the Australian Open this year. 23-year-old Ruud, the number 8 in the world, has suffered an ankle injury.
Ruud reached the fourth round at the Australian Open last year, his best result at a grand slam tournament. He won no less than five titles in 2021 and saw his advance rewarded with participation in the ATP Finals in Turin, where he won two group matches and was eliminated in the semi-finals by Russian Daniil Medvedev.
Roman Safioellin from Russia is Ruud’s replacement.