The first round of the Australian Open continued on Tuesday, with more of the tournament’s top seeds getting sent home.
US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez saw her run end early as Australian wildcard Maddison Inglis dominated the match 6-4, 6-2. It was Inglis’ first-ever match win at a Grand Slam.
“I had thought of that moment for a long time,” Inglis said after the match. “It was just pure happiness. I was so happy. I saw the ball go out and I looked at my box.
“It was an amazing moment. I’m really so happy I could have it here in Melbourne with all my friends and family there.”
The world No. 133 will face off against Hailey Baptiste in the second round.
Former world No. 15 Kaia Kanepi dominated her match, taking out 16th seed and 2016 champion Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-3. It’s the ninth time Kanepi has beaten a seed in the first round of a major and her 14th defeat of a seed across the first two rounds.
Also out early at Melbourne Park is 2019 finalist and 20th seed Petra Kvitova after falling to Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-2.
So far this tournament, a plethora of top seeds have fallen out in the first round, including Coco Gauff and Sofia Kenin. Ons Jabeur had to withdraw from her match due to injury.
But former world No. 1 Simona Halep faced little problems, taking down Magdalena French 6-4, 6-3. She’ll take on Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round.
World no. 2 Aryna Sabalenka may have struggled in the lead up to the Australian Open but found her footing on Tuesday. Falling down a set and a break, Sabalenka fought back to survive Storm Sanders 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 and reach the second round of the tournament.
It wasn’t all perfect, as Sabalenka racked up 37 unforced errors. Following the match, she looked visibly relieved.
Comeback complete ✅
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2022
From a set and a break down, @SabalenkaA survives Storm Sanders 5-7 6-3 6-2 to reach the second round at the #AusOpen.#AO2022 pic.twitter.com/ivCqjQSFOU
She’ll face another test in the second round against world No. 100 Wang Xinyu, who took down Ann Li 7-6(5), 6-3 in the first round.