Maria Sharapova needed a wildcard and sadly she did not make good use of it. Currently ranked outside the top hundred (145), she needed to make some impressive noise at this Australian Open to improve her ranking; she did not. Sharapova lost 3-6, 4-6 in the first round to [19] Donna Vekic (CRO).

Day 2 Seeded Drama

[12] Johanna Konta (GBR) lost 4-6, 2-6 to [78] Ons Jabeur (TUN).

[20] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) lost 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(4), 4-6 to [256] Ernests Gulbis (LAT).

[21] Amanda Anisimova (USA) lost 3-6, 6-4, 3-6 to [73] Zarina Diyas (KAZ).

[28] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) lost 7-6(5), 2-6, 1-6, RET to the twenty-year-old [96] Alexei Popyrin (AUS).

[31] Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) lost easily, 1-6, 1-6, to [52] Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS).

Gut Wrenching American Losses

[38] Reilly Opelka had [12] Fabio Fognini (ITA) against the ropes but could not finish him off. Leading two sets to love, the American surrendered his advantage and lost 6-3, 7-6(3), 4-6, 3-6, 6-7(5).

[50] Frances Tiafoe lost 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 to [4] Daniil Medvedev (RUS).

[155] Shelby Rogers had an opportunity, she came out hot taking the first set from [32] Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 6-0, but she faded just as quickly losing the next two sets 1-6, 0-6.

American Successes

[18] Alison Riske defeated [51] Yafan Wang (CHN) 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3.

[29] Taylor Fritz defeated [175] Tallon Griekspoor (NED) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

[PR44] Catherine Bellis defeated [87] Tatjana Maria (GER) 6-0, 6-2.

[62] Lauren Davis defeated [207] Leylah Fernandez (CAN) 6-4, 6-2.

[80] Tommy Paul defeated [101] Leonardo Mayer (ARG) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

[100] Tennys Sandgren defeated [202] Marco Trungelliti (ITA) 6-1, 6-4, 7-5.

[217] Michael Mmoh needed a wildcard to get into the main draw and the twenty-two-year-old American made good use of his opportunity. This time he won his first-round match, defeating [63] Pablo Andujar (ESP) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

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