Australian Open 2022: Zverev in action, Barty and Nadal win, Norrie stunned – live!

In the Rod Laver Arena, Alexander Zverev, one of the game’s most talented players, a semi-finalist in 2020 here, is taking on his German compatriot, Daniel Altmaier. There’s an early double fault for Zverev in the opening service game, though the higher seed eventually takes that.

Australian fans are currently whooping it up as their man, John Millman is in a two-sets lead over Feliciano Lopez, though he is a break down and 2-0 down in the third set. That’s being played in the Margaret Court Arena.

By the way, Barty will next meet Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, the world number 145, after she beat Russia’s Varvara Gracheva in the opening round.

Some quotes from Cameron Norrie after his comprehensive 6-3 6-0 6-4 loss to Sebastian Korda.

I think that’s maybe my worst match in the last eight months or so. I had a week off to prepare, prepared as well as I could, and just I was slow, I was missing routine backhands, which I never miss. I honestly can’t put a finger on it. I just need to get better and improve. Lots to work on. Korda was too good today. Any time I had a chance to come back, he served his way out of it. And on the bigger points he was much better than me. I didn’t play well in really any big point today. That’s part of it and just a disappointing way to start the year with this match.

Jelena Dokic is the interviewer as Ash Barty speaks, and Dokic gets all emotional about last year’s Wimbledon win. This isn’t the way Gary Richardson used to do it but it brings some interesting answers.

This is beautiful, it’s felt like an eternity. Nice to be back on home soil, it was a lot of fun out here. It was nice and clean, end to end, I did a good job, it’s windy at court level. I feel like I enjoyed it, that was the important thing. [On her Vogue spread] I am a proud indigenous woman, I love my heritage, I love to celebrate my heritage, it’s what keeps connected with the people, it’s what keeps me connected with the land.

Easily done this time, with three match points gained on her serve. The first goes out, and the home favourite from Ipswich, Queensland then misses her second winning chance. Nerves, can’t be? No, a crashing serve gets the job done. Nice and easy does it.

Barty, at 5-0 up, seeks to complete a perfect match. She goes to 30-30 on the Tsurenko service, which remains as shaky as ever. Match point arrives at 30-40, but then a slow second serve brings up an unenforced error from Barty. Deuce it is, where a long rally is won by Barty’s greater accuracy to set up a second match point. Then comes another Barty error. Nerves? Then a winner sets up an advantage for Tsurenko, who takes her first game. The double bagel is avoided.

Sofia Kenin, the 2020 champion, is out! With Madison Keys having beaten her 7-6 7-5. Does that register as a shock? Not in the light of Keys having won the Adelaide Open and Kenin’s ranking falling off a cliff. Another thing to show how much has changed in the last couple of years.

“The serve brutalised,” says Simon Reed on the Eurosport coverage in the UK. “Like shelling peas, couldn’t be easier.” Is shelling peas easy? Tsurenko smashes the ball into the net for 4-0 to Barty. This is getting cruel.

3-0 now in the second set, all nine games won in 36 minutes for Barty. Highly impressive from her, devastating for her opponent.

Guess what? Barty goes 1-0 up in the second set with some ease, too. This is not going at all well for the world number 120. The 2-0 arrives after a double fault on the Tsurenko’s service. It’s a tad painful to watch.

And Barty takes the first set 6-0, about as easily as is possible to imagine. Tsurenko is having a nightmare and is halfway to defeat in just 24 minutes.

Tsurenko’s serve is letting her down and 4-0 to Barty arrives quickly. 5-0 comes almost as fast, only for a winner to be missed. “Out” screams the line judge, in an officious female voice that has a tinge of a warder on Prisoner (Cell Block H). That was on the outside etc etc.

Barty faces a ding-dong on her second service game, with Tsurenko looking dangerous but eventually sees it out after a couple of deuces and some shaky serving. She’s 3-0 up.

Matteo Berrettini had stomach problems during his defeat of Brandon Nakashima, and this was his performance-enhancing drug to get him through a five-set win.

Tsurenko’s serve is speedy but she seems nervous, and overcooks a chance for a winner on the second point before Barty easily sees out a break point to to 2-0 up.

So, Lesia Tsurenko, the Ukrainian, takes on Barty, who is clad in kid that looks a little like that German World Cup 2018 kit that was considered so hip and trendy at the time. There’s some rowdiness in the Rod Laver Arena of the “Aussie Aussie Aussie” variety as Barty serves out for a 1-0 lead in the first set.

Ash Barty is dancing about in the bowels of Rod Laver Arena, preparing to head out onto court. She’ll be out soon enough.

And on that note, I’ll leave you in the capable hands of John Brewin, who will guide you through the opening stages of the evening session at Melbourne Park.

Serbian players Laslo Djere and Dusan Lajovic have voiced their support for compatriot Novak Djokovic on the opening day of the Australian Open, which has been notable for the absence of the world No 1.

“Not just Serbians, I think the whole world saw it and they probably will have a new or different opinion about Australia,” said Djere, who lost to Denis Shapovalov. “I mean, the guy had the exemption and they still deported him.

“I don’t know the details, so I also don’t want to be too harsh. But what everyone could read, yeah, he’s not vaccinated, but we were told that we can enter the country with an exemption, which he had, and yet he’s not here with us. “Something went horribly wrong. Yeah, it was a true catastrophic situation.”

Lajovic, who will play in the second round after his win over Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics said the way Djokovic had been treated was “terribly wrong”.

“The decision itself was terribly wrong, and also the reason why they did it is also for me terribly wrong because based just an idea, I don’t think it’s the right way.

“I hope that in the future he will be the best tennis player in history and that this will be only looked at as a setback on his path to be the best tennis player to ever play the sport.”

The all-American clash between 2020 winner Sofia Kenin – her only grand slam success to date – and Madison Keys is under way on John Cain Arena. It’s on serve so far in the first set, with Keys holding a 3-2 lead.

The evening session is not far off now – play is scheduled to start at 7pm local – that’s about 10 minutes away – with Ashe Barty headlining on Rod Laver Arena in the world No 1’s opener against Lesia Tsurenko. Stick with us for that one.

Another tidbit from Naomi Osaka’s presser and more insight into her new, fun outlook, notably on that botched overhead that might at one point have weighed heavily on the Japanese player. Today, she was able to laugh it off.

“I just feel like there are situations where I previously would get upset but at this point in my life I’m here because I want to be here and because I find that it’s fun for me. I think just to be playing on Rod Laver and to have such a good streak on it is something I could be proud of and something I enjoy.

“I can’t expect myself to win every match, but I do expect myself to have fun and challenge myself.”

Local hopes that Thanasi Kokkinakis might play Nadal in the second round have been tempered after the Australian lost the opening set in his match against Yannick Hanfmann. The wild card trails the qualifier 6-2, 1-0.

Hubert Hurkacz, the 10th seed, brings to an end a humdinger over on John Cain Arena against Egor Gerasimov. It goes four sets and 3 hours 12 minutes before the Pole is able to see off his dogged opponent, 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3.

Coco Gauff is out of the Open! What a victory for Qiang Wang, who completes a 6-4, 6-2 victory over the 18th seed. Pat Cash, Qiang’s coach, is pictured celebrating in the stands of Margaret Court Arena as his charge books her place in the second round.

Local favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis is under way in his opening match against German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann – this one promises to be one to watch, not least because it’s the boisterous Court Three that is playing host.

Coco Gauff, the 18th seed, is in real trouble against Qiang Wang. The American is a set and 5-0 down to the Chinese world No 112. This is either going to be a very disappointing trip for Gauff, or one of the most incredible comebacks of all time. She manages to break back and pull back to 6-4, 5-1, but Qiang remains just one game away from the match.

One of the biggest stories of the day at Melbourne Park is undoubtedly that of Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic who earlier upset No 30 seed Lloyd Harris in front of a boisterous local crowd.

The 25-year-old needed nearly three hours to post a famous 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (3) win to delight the home crowd who had flocked to Court Three to support him.

“It was one of the loudest atmospheres I’ve ever seen to be honest and it was all for me, all for the Aussies,” said Vukic. “I couldn’t have done it without them. It’s a dream for sure.”

Vukic now plays Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot, with third seed Alex Zverev potentially awaiting in the third round.

But it was disappointment for another Australian, world No 49 James Duckworth, who led two sets to one but ultimately lost 6-4, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 loss to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.

And in the women’s draw, Naomi Osaka knows the identity of her next opponent after Madison Brengle moved past Dayana Yastremska, who retired from their clash with the American on the cusp of victory. Another American, Coco Gauff, the 18th seed, is under way against Chinese qualifier Qiang Wang. And twice former champion, Vika Azarenka, is also through, having just won match point to secure a 6-3, 6-1 win over Panna Udvardy.

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini made a slow start before finding his rhythm to get past unseeded Brandon Nakashima of the US 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-3 . Poland’s 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz needed just three sets to beat Egor Gerasimov of Belarus and move through. Karen Khachanov, the 28th seed, joined the pair in the second round after beating Denis Kudla in four sets.

Okey dokey, that’s Rod Laver Arena action done and dusted for the opening daytime session. Next up, it’s Ash Barty in the first match of the night session, starting in a tick under two hours.

So, let’s get up to speed with what’s been happening elsewhere at Melbourne Park while we’ve been focused on Nadal.

First up, a big shock for Britain’s No 1 and men’s 12th seed Cam Norrie, who has been dumped out of the tournament by Sebastian Korda, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4. Both players had tested positive for Covid in the build-up but the up-and-coming American was too sharp for Norrie and needed just one hour 42 minutes to advance.

And finally on his potential second-round opponent, Thanasi Kokkinakis:

“He always have been a fantastic player. He have been very unlucky with aloft injuries. I am really happy to see him back at very, very high level, probably playing better than ever. So, if that happens gonna be a big challenge for me, but that’s why I’m here, just to face the best players and Thanasi with this amazing start of the year with semi-finals and title, it is today, going to be a big test. I hope to be ready for it and just enjoy to play here one more time.”

And on how a recent bout of Covid has impacted him:

“I don’t know. I don’t know if sometimes you are a little more tighter because of it or because I haven’t been on the tour for the last six months. It’s difficult to know exactly, but yeah, the symptoms haven’t been nice. I have been four days in bed and then three more days destroyed physically, you know. But after that I started to feel ail little bit better. I was… I had PCR negative after the ninth or tenth day and then I had one or two practices at home and then I game here.”

More from Nadal, when asked by Jim Courier about how close he is to his best level:

“Well, it’s difficult to think about it now, but, you never know. As I say a lot of times, when could you comeback from injuries that, unfortunately I know about it very well, things are always difficult and you need to go day by day. You need to accept the mistakes. You need to forgive yourself when the things are not going the proper way, because that’s the only way. You know at the beginning the things are going to be difficult. Of course, you will not have the best feelings sometimes on court, but staying positive, playing with the right energy and, of course, being on the tour, practising with the guys and winning matches, for sure, helps and last week had been important for me. I won three matches. I won a title. It’s always beautiful and I think I am doing better and better.”

Let’s hear from Nadal before we go around the grounds for a day one update.

“Yeah, been very challenging months. Not only the last six months, obviously have been tough being outside of the competition but since the first lockdown in 2020.

“Everybody knows I have important injury in my foot since the beginning of my career but I was able to manage or or less well but is through that… After that two months being at home, when I came back, I been very challenging since that. I was able to play at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021, but honestly have been, yeah, very tough moments, of course with a lot of doubt and still doubt, but here I am and I can’t be happier, to be back here in Australia in this amazing stadium, it’s just fantastic for me. It means a lot.”

Giron 1-6, 4-6, 2-6 Nadal Nadal digs himself out of a little hole he makes for himself with a sloppy overhead volley that sees him fall to 0-30 before he is forced to save break point with a thunderbolt ace. But dig he does and progress to the second round he does, in straight sets, and in pretty comfortable fashion.

Second set: Giron 1-6, 4-6, 2-5 Nadal* (*denotes next server) Nadal hits a peach of a forehand down the line to kick things off before both players have the crowd in raptures as each keeps the point alive with various displays of athleticism. Rafa is called out on the next two points allowing Giron to hang in there – for now. Nadal will serve for the match.

Second set: *Giron 1-6, 4-6, 1-5 Nadal (*denotes next server) Nadal in a hurry. He holds serve to love and this one’s over shortly.

Meanwhile, more Djokovic-dodging from a post-match press conference, this time from Naomi Osaka (expertly done, in my opinion):

Question: Do you believe Djokovic should be playing at the Australian OPen this year?

Osaka: Is my opinion going to help anything?

Question: Asking what othere players think of the situation.

Osaka: Yeah, I’ll kind of pass on that. Thanks, though.

Second set: Giron 1-6, 4-6, 1-4 Nadal* (*denotes next server) At the receiving end, Nadal is shrouded in shadow until he emerges into the sunshine with menace, more often than not with a booming forehand return. Giron gets back into the game after falling 0-30 down with a thrilling point, but he can’t sustain the comeback and Nadal breaks yet again. He’s now just two games away from the match.

Second set: *Giron 1-6, 4-6, 1-3 Nadal (*denotes next server) Nadal is in total control still, even if a fantastic Giron forehand winner at 40-0 up elicits a “bravo” from the Spaniard. Another service game collected.

Second set: Giron 1-6, 4-6, 1-2 Nadal* (*denotes next server) Giron faces a mountain to climb here now, but this is better from the American. He was in danger of being blown away but he digs in to hold serve. It’s not as simple as Nadal’s last hold, but it’s a hold nevertheless.

Second set: *Giron 1-6, 4-6, 0-2 Nadal (*denotes next server) Nadal appears to wants this one over with as quickly as possible. He races through his next service game, firing down two aces and winning it to love.

Second set: Giron 1-6, 4-6, 0-1 Nadal* (*denotes next server) Nadal emerges from the sheds after a quick costume change at the break box fresh and raring to go. And he continues where he left off, breaking in the first game of the third set to seize an early advantage.

Second set: *Giron 1-6, 4-6 Nadal (*denotes next server) Serving for the second set, Nadal errs with a double fault to open. But there will be no stopping the sixth seed and he roars to a two-set lead. He wraps it up in 49 minutes and from here it appears to be a matter of how long Giron can delay the inevitable.

Injury news: women’s third seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia has withdrawn from the tournament with a back injury. Her place in the draw has gone to Irina Bara, who takes on Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain.

Second set: Giron 1-6, 4-5 Nadal* (*denotes next server) There it is again, Nadal’s forehand. Giron makes a crucial error – he drops it short and Nadal is allowed to weigh up his shot before whipping another winner back past his opponent. That brings up the first of two set points which, credit to Giron, are both saved. The game goes to four deuces in total and Nadal has another two set points – both of which are also wasted, to the disappointment of the Spaniard, who shakes his head – before Giron holds serve in what proves to be a mammoth game. Hanging tough.

Second set: *Giron 1-6, 3-5 Nadal (*denotes next server) Nadal wobbles slightly this game but he can always rely on his forehand – at 40-30 he just opens up his body and whips another winner into the corner of the court, leaving Giron little to no chance of reaching the ball, let alone returning it.

Second set: Giron 1-6, 3-4 Nadal* (*denotes next server) Back to current events on Rod Laver and Giron is still in this second set after another service hold.

Third seed Garbine Mugaruza kicks off things on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday with men’s second seed and the highest seeded player remaining in the tournament, Daniil Medvedev, to open his campaign during the day session. In the evening, women’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka and Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded four, grace centre court.

Alex de Minaur and Emma Radacanu headline what looks to be an entertaining evening on Margaret Court Arena, while an Andy Murray-Nick Kyrgios double-header is not to be missed on John Cain Arena.

Second set: *Giron 1-6, 2-4 Nadal (*denotes next server) Nadal holds to love in double-quick time. Tuesday’s order of play has been released….

Second set: Giron 1-6, 2-3 Nadal* (*denotes next server) Giron’s serve continues to fire and he lands his second ace of the day. The American’s not going anywhere just yet.