Nadal and Osaka continue, Berrettini too

The 35-year-old won 6:1, 6:4, 6:2 against American Marcos Giron in Melbourne on Monday. After 1:49 hours, Nadal decided the first round game in his favor. The fifth in the world rankings had to take a break for several months last year due to a complicated foot injury. In preparation for the Australian Open, he made the perfect comeback with a tournament victory in Melbourne.

The Spaniard is now one of the favorites at the first Grand Slam tournament of the season and could benefit from the absence of Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic. Nadal, who won the tournament in 2009, is the only former Australian Open champion in the men's field. Like Djokovic, he has collected 20 titles across the four most important tournaments. Last year's Serbian winner left Melbourne on Sunday evening after Australia's Federal Court rejected his appeal against the cancellation of his visa. Berrettini with difficulty Matteo Berrettini also survived the first round - but not without problems. The 25-year-old had to struggle with stomach problems and a strong opponent named Brandon Nakashima (ATP 68). After losing the first set, the man from Rome improved and won the match 4:6, 6:2, 7:6 and 6:3.

Naomi Osaka wants to defend her title. © ANSA / DAVE HUNT

In the women's category, defending champion and co-favorite Naomi Osaka confidently made it into the second round. The Japanese, former world number one, beat Camila Osorio from Colombia 6:3, 6:3. Osaka has slipped to 14th place in the world tennis rankings. After the US Open last September, the four-time Grand Slam tournament winner withdrew from tennis and took a longer break. She had previously made her depression public. At the beginning of January, the 24-year-old Japanese returned to the tour after a four-month break. Jannik Sinner and Andreas Seppi will play their first round matches on Tuesday.

At the start, local hope Ashleigh Barty outclassed Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko with a 6-0, 6-1 win. Meanwhile, the early exit came for former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin. The 2020 tournament winner lost the American duel with Madison Keys 6:7 (2:7), 5:7.

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Nadal and Osaka continue, Berrettini too

Spanish tennis professional Rafael Nadal moved into the second round of the Australian Open with an easy three-set win.

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