MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

I am starting off with my favorite player, [6] Rafael Nadal. Unfortunately, the American Marcos Giron could not get out of round one. He did put up more resistance in the second set; however, the end was inevitable. Nadal won 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

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American Victories On Day One

Sebastian Korda upset [12] Cameron Norrie. He won 6-3, 6-0, 6-4. It was a nice comeback from Amanda Anisimova. The American fought off the qualifier, Arianne Hartono, to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. Madison Brengle had a strange and lopsided match against Dayana Yastremska. However, the American won by the retirement of her opponent [6-1, 0-6, 5-0]. [21] Jessica Pegula had her hands full against Anhelina Kalinina.  She eventually prevailed in three sets to win 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-5.

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Alison Riske defeated Donna Vekic. It was a surprisingly easy victory for the American, she won 6-2, 6-2. Mackenzie McDonald battled back after dropping the first set. He won 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Bernarda Pera got a nice start to her Australian Open. She defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5, 6-3. In the battle of big servers, [23] Reilly Opelka won 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3). American wildcard, Stefan Kozlov, defeated Jiri Vesely 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

American Losses On Day One

The surprise for me was [18] Coco Gauff losing in straight sets. Qiang Wang got a little revenge. After losing their two previous encounters, Wang pulled off the upset. Gauff lost 6-4, 6-2. American Brandon Nakashima started off hot; however, he fizzled.  Nakashima had chances in the third set, but [7] Matteo Berrettini was not playing ball. The Italian won 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-3. The struggles continue for [11] Sofia Kenin. She lost to fellow red-hot American, Madison Keys. It was a battle, but Keys showed her improved mental fortitude. She persevered to claim the 7-6(2), 7-5 victory. Another American, Denis Kudla, started off hot in his match as well; however, [28] Karen Khachanov was determined to win. The Russian won 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(2).

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Lauren Davis lost to the Czech player, Tereza Martincova, 5-7, 2-6. Lucky loser, Ernesto Escobedo, lost to Alexander Bublik in four sets. Claire Liu lost 4-6, 4-6 to [28] Veronika Kudermetova. Sam Querrey lost to the Italian, [25] Lorenzo Sonego, 5-7, 3-6, 3-6. Tommy Paul upended the Kazak, Mikhail Kukushkin, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

The Seeded Players That Lost On Day 1

Wildcard, Aleksandar Vukic upset [30] Lloyd Harris. Vukic won 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-6(3). See the two other seeds that lost above [Kenin and Norrie].

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