MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal began the defense of his Australian Open title with a four-set victory over Britain’s Jack Draper on Monday as home hope Nick Kyrgios left due to injury without hitting the ball.
In the women’s draw, top seed Iga Swiatek survived a tough test, while Jessica Pegula and teen prodigy Coco Gauff were both emphatic winners on the first day of action.
Spanish great Nadal, 36, was in poor form by his sky-high standards, losing six of his last seven matches to reach the last 16 at the US Open.
In fast-rising 21-year-old Draper, the 22-time Grand Slam champion faces a tough test to begin his campaign at a flamboyant Melbourne Park.
The top seed recovered from a faltering second set – and a bizarre incident when a ball boy accidentally took his racket – to beat the 38th-ranked Briton 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6 at Rod Laver Arena. -1 to beat .
Nadal, who recently became a father, faces American Mackenzie McDonald in the second round.
After beating Draper he said, “Very exciting, fresh start, very happy to be back with a win at Rod Laver which I needed.”
“The past few months have not been easy for me.”
Nadal was on court when Australia’s talented but short-tempered Kyrgios called a hastily arranged press conference and announced he was out of the tournament with a knee injury.
“Obviously, I’m devastated,” said the Wimbledon finalist, who was considered an outsider to win a maiden Grand Slam crown.
“I’ve played some great tournaments here, winning the doubles last year and probably going into this event playing the tennis of my life.
“I’m just tired of everything, and (it) is obviously very cruel.”
The first Grand Slam of the year had already lost several stars in the buildup.
Injured men’s world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and two-time Melbourne champion Naomi Osaka – who is expecting her first child – are among the other players missing.
Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who was detained ahead of last year’s tournament and deported after refusing to be vaccinated for COVID, launched his title assault on Tuesday.
Other winners on Monday included third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who defeated Vasek Pospisil in an all-Canadian clash.
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, a losing finalist in 2021 and 2022, made his bid to do one better by demolishing Marcos Giron in straight sets.
But 21st seed Borna Coric lost in straight sets to Czech Jiri Lehka.
In the women’s draw, hot favorite Swiatek was far from her fluent best against Jule Niemeyer but got the job done, 6–4, 7–5.
“Honestly, I wanted to focus on myself because I know Juul serves wonders and was really putting the pressure on me,” said Swiatek, who landed only 49 percent of her first serve.
“So I am very happy that I was successful in this match because the first round is always difficult and I think an opponent like Jules makes it even more difficult.”
Pole, who is chasing an Australian Open crown to go with major titles at the US Open and Roland Garros, plays Colombia’s Camila Osorio.
The in-form Pegula signaled her intent when she thrashed 161st-ranked Romanian Jacqueline Cristian 6-0, 6-1 in a 59-minute match.
Fellow American Gauff produced an equally explosive performance in the second round, defeating Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-1, 6-4.
The 18-year-old Gauff now faces a mouth-watering encounter against former US Open champion Emma Radukanu.
It will be the first meeting between two rising stars of women’s tennis, Gauff and 20-year-old Reducanu.
Radukaanu said, “I am really looking forward to this match.”
“I’m very ready for it. Obviously Koko has done some great things and she’s playing well.
“I think we’re both good, young players, we’re both coming up – part of the next generation of tennis – it’s going to be a great match.”
Also safely beat another American, Danielle Collins, last year’s finalist in Melbourne.
Greek sixth seed Maria Sakkari also won, and Victoria Azarenka defeated Sofia Kenin in a battle of two former Australian Open champions.
But two seeds fell at the first hurdle, 25th-seeded Czech Marie Buzkova and American 28th-seeded Amanda Anisimova.