27th seed Felix Auger Aliassime lit up the evening session on Day 2 of the Australian Open 2024 as he overcame a spirited former US Open champion Dominic Theim in the longest match of his career that lasted nearly 5 hours at the Margaret Court Arena on Monday, January 15. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Coco Gauff clinched comfortable victories while 10th seed Alex de Minaur and 3rd seed Daniil Medvedev survived a scare.
It was a disappointing end to Andy Murray’s campaign as the 3-time Grand Slam champion hinted at the end of his love affair with Melbourne Park. On the other hand, it was also curtains for another former Grand Slam champion in Stanislas Wawrinka in another five-setter.
Australian Open 2024: Day 2 Highlights
New mom Naomi Osaka was knocked out on her return to Grand Slam action, 6 months after the birth of her girl. On the other hand, 6th seed Ons Jabeur made a confident start to her campaign.
Here’s a summary of the results of major first-round matches on Day 2 of the Australian Open 2024.
FELIX OUTLASTS THIEM
In a gripping encounter, Felix Auger-Aliassime triumphed over Dominic Thiem in a first-round marathon match that lasted 4 hours and 59 minutes, the longest match in the Canadian’s tennis career.
The Canadian showcased resilience and skill to fend off Thiem’s spirited comeback, ultimately securing victory with a scoreline of 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 5-7, 6-3. This win added to Thiem’s recent struggles at Grand Slams, where he has experienced a series of first-round exits since reaching the fourth round of the 2021 Australian Open.
OSAKA’S COMEBACK CUT SHORT
Naomi Osaka’s much-anticipated Grand Slam comeback ended in the first round as the 2-time champion lost to 16th seed Carolina Garcia 4-6, 6-7 (2) at the Rod Laver Arena on Monday, January 15. Osaka returned to action after a 15-month absence from the tour and six months after the birth of her daughter, Shai.
However, Naomi Osaka, a 4-time Grand Slam champion, showed she is ready for the big fight on her comeback as she tested in-form Garcia over two sets in Melbourne.
MURRAY LOSES IN ‘LAST’ AUS OPEN MATCH
Andy Murray, a 5-time finalist at the Australian Open, was outplayed by Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who delivered a decisive 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over the British tennis star. The loss marked the second successive first-round defeat for Murray, who was ousted in the first round by Grigor Dimitrov in Brisbane International earlier in the month.
Murray said he might have played his last match at the Australian Open.
“It’s a definite possibility that will be the last time I play here. And yeah, I think probably because of how the match went & everything, I don’t know,” Murray told the press after losing to Etcheverry.
MAIA THROUGH TO 2ND ROUND
Brazilian 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia beat Czech Republic’s Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2 3-6 6-2 to set up a second round clash with qualifier Alina Korneeva.
MONFILS STORMS INTO 2ND ROUND
Frenchman Gael Monfils stormed into the second round with a 6-4 6-3 7-5 win over Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann. Monfils, 37, sent down 16 aces and 43 winners while winning 13 points at the net.
COCO GAUFF MAKES STRONG START
Coco Gauff made a brilliant start to her Australian Open 2024 campaign after beating Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-3, 6-0 in the first round of the women’s singles at the Rod Laver Arena. It took Gauff only an hour to get the better of her Slovakian opponent.
BEN SHELETON THROUGH
Ben Shelton made his way through to the second round after beating Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 7-6, 7-5. He took 2 hours and 46 minutes to come up trumps.
Shelton was excellent with his first serves, winning 79 percent of points from them. Shelton also pulled off 14 aces to put pressure on Agut. The fact that he churned 53 winners helped him big time.
LUCKY MEDVEDEV INTO 2ND ROUND
Daniil Medvedev had his fair share of luck after qualifier Terence Atmane, who was making his Grand Slam debut, retired midway due to injury.
Medvedev was leading 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 1-0 when he got the walkover after Atmane could not continue further. He will next face Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori, who beat qualifier Patrick Kypson in the first round.
ONS JABEUR MAKES STRONG START
3-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur eased into the women’s singles second round with a 6-3 6-1 win over Yuliia Starodubtseva on Monday.
“It’s very special to come back here. I decided to rest a bit before the Australian Open and play here,” Ons Jabeur said.
“Last year wasn’t so great for me here and I was a little stressed, but the crowd made me feel less stressed. I saw some guys I’ve known from 2016 cheering for me when I was playing qualifying. They’ve been following me since qualifying,” she added.
The 6th seed will meet Mirra Andreeva, one of the three 16-year-olds who made it to women’s singles second round at Australian Open 2024.
