On a day when top Australian men’s Nick Kyrgios pulled out of the Australian Open, a pair of his countrymen have done the host nation proud at Melbourne Park.
Struggling veteran John Millman and Rinky Hijikata, in his first Australian Open, both prevailed in five-set epics, with the latter coming from two sets down to claim a famous victory.
In the day’s session, Jason Kubler ended his 12-year wait for a main draw win at his home Grand Slam, while Ash Barty-inspired Olivia Gadecki won in straight sets.
Watch live Tennis with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Live coverage of ATP + WTA tournaments, including matches in each final. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
MAKING DAY 1: TWO AUSSIES UNTIL THE 12-YEAR WAIT IS FINALLY OVER
Hijikata needed almost four and a half hours to overcome Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann and set up a showdown with Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round.
The Australian re-entered the match in front of a raucous crowd on Court 8. A 71-minute fourth set ended in a thrilling home tiebreaker, before a roller-coaster fifth.
Hijikata had the best break chance early in the decider, but Hanfmann served back-to-back aces from 15-40 and served it out for 2-2.
Then it was the German’s turn to threaten a break, with an epic fifth game that saw multiple chances for them to come through, but a couple of unforced errors threw them out.
At 3-2, Hijikata won a point he had no right to claim thanks to a remarkable return and Hanfmann error for 30-40 and a break opportunity. Then he killed a return that dribbled over the net and could not be returned, winning 4-2.
A raucous crowd cheered him on at home and the pressure increased when Hijikata double-faulted on the second of two opening match points. But he immediately recovered to serve out a famous 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 triumph.
“I’m speechless. That was mental. I was, I don’t know, I don’t really know what to say at this point,” Hijikata told Nine after the match.
“I couldn’t have done it without the support today. I’m so thankful that everyone came out. This is the most fun game I’ve ever played in my life.”
Earlier Millman used his mark to survive a five-set thriller against Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler, 6-7(8) 7-5 6-7(2) 6-2 6-3.
The Australian led 5-0 in the first set tiebreaker before dropping it 10-8, and led 5-2 in the third set before losing it in another tiebreaker.
But Millman continued to fight in front of a very partisan crowd and forced a deciding set which he claimed after more than four hours of play, although he needed his third match point to clinch it.
It was Millman’s third win in 12 career five-set matches, and his second win in that span at the Australian Open.
Millman is likely to face Daniil Medvedev in the second round, assuming the back-to-back runner-up wins tonight.
Rinky Hijikata and John Millman. Source: FOX SPORTS
WORLD NUMBER 1 FORCED TO FIGHT AS EX-CHAMPION
The reigning Australian Open women’s favorite and the man who went two sets down in last year’s final kick off their campaigns at Melbourne Park tonight.
But things were not so simple for Polish world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
She was made to work for her first round win at the Australian Open, winning in two tight sets against German big hitter Jule Niemeier.
The reigning French Open and US Open champion took a hard-fought first set 6-4, but Niemeier was undaunted, keeping the points short and taking control in the second set.
After leading by a break in the second set, Niemeier struggled to serve at 4-3, but avoided trouble to take a 5-3 lead.
Both players hit the ball in several captivating rallies, but Niemeier seemed determined to win or lose points on her own terms.
However, more errors began to flow from Niemeier’s racket as she served for the set at 5-4, but Swiatek broke to break even before holding to love for a 6-5 lead.
Niemeier was pressured once again on her serve, with Swiatek converting a match point at 30-40 to go ahead in straight sets.
“It’s also a big psychological advantage, for me – matches like these send a message to the dressing room because everyone is watching her, but she’s still fighting hard for the second set,” Jelena Dokic told Nine.
“He never gives up. She wasn’t comfortable, she could have easily lost the second set, but she fought hard for it, that’s why she’s world number one.”
It is the second time in as many majors that the 23-year-old Niemeier has caused Swiatek problems, taking the first set in last year’s US Open clash before eventually losing in a decider.
Iga Swiatek is favorite to follow Ash Barty as Australian Open champion. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP) Source: AFP
After their matchup on center court, back-to-back finalist Daniil Medvedev begins his quest to go one step further when he takes on American Marcus Giron.
Also in action tonight were Greece’s No. 3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, up-and-coming No. 6 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, plus last year’s semi-finalist and women’s No. 10 seed Madison Keys .
Tsitsipas looked comfortable against France’s Quentin Halys early, but the third set was a battle, as he saved four set points to force a tiebreaker, then came back from 3-0 down to win it and the match, 6-3 6-4 7- 6(6).
Auger-Aliassime’s clash with compatriot Vasek Pospisil got off to a strange start, with the sixth seed barely firing a shot as he quickly fell behind.
It took Pospisil just under 40 minutes to take the first set 6-1, threatening to bring a huge boil at John Cain Arena, though Auger-Aliassime battled back to back-to-back wins in the tiebreaker, 7-6( 4) 7-6(3).
Meanwhile, Stan Wawrinka was knocked out in five sets against Alex Molcan, having served for the match in the fourth set, 6-7(3) 6-3 1-6 7-6(2) 4-6.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2023
Night 1 Order of play
Rod Laver Arena
Night session from 7pm
[1] Iga Swiatek (POL) defeats Jule Niemeier (GER) 6-4 7-5
Marcus Giron (USA) v [7] Daniil Medvedev (RUS)
Show track 1
Night session from 7pm
[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) defeats Quentin Halys (FRA) 6-3 6-4 7-6 (6)
[10] Madison Keys (USA) – Anna Blinkova (RUS) 6-4
John Cain Arena
Night session not before 6pm
[6] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) defeats Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 1-6 7-6(4) 7-6(3) 6-3
Aussies in action
Kia Arena, Game 4
Xinyu Wang (CHN) def Storm Hunter (AUS) 7-6(2) 6-4
Track 3, match 4
John Millman (AUS) defeat Marc-Andrea Huesler (SWI) 6-7(8) 7-5 6-7(2) 6-2 6-3
Track 8, match 4
Rinky Hijikata (AUS) defeat Yannick Hanfmann (GER) 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3
Follow Australian Open updates on our live blog below!