The first rounds of the Australian Open are already underway. The first Grand Slam of the year, which will be played from January 14 to 28, hosted this Monday the debuts of Paula Badosa, Alejandro Davidovich, Rebeka Masarova, Roberto Bautista and her namesake Carballés. A positive day for the 'Spanish Navy' that sees three of its five tennis players advance from the phase this day.
Badosa once again tasted victory, after defeating the American Taylor Townsend this morning by a solid 6-1 and 6-3. The Catalan arrived at her debut in the Oceanic Open, after having lost to Bernarda Pera at the first opportunity last week in the Adelaide tournament (6-2, 2-6 and 3-6).
The Catalan returned to official competition in the Australian WTA 500, after having been away from the highest level for six months due to injury: she suffered a stress fracture in her spine in the second round of Wimbledon 2023. However, the former world number two He now has a reason to smile again and move forward at the Australian Open.
“I depend on the physical, let's see how he responds to me. Tennis-wise I am a little better every day, adapting my level to what is on the circuit. Luckily today I didn't have much wear and tear. Let's see how my back is tomorrow,” Badosa commented at the end of the match and that she will have the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova as her next opponent.
In the women's draw the good news continues, as Rebeka Masarova joined Badosa as another of the Spanish players to be in the second round, overcoming the Ukrainian Aliaksandra Sasnovich (6-3 and 6-4). There could still be three Hispanic qualifiers, in case Cristina Bucsa wins her match against the Russian Anna Blinkova this Tuesday.
Regarding the men's section, Davidovich, number 24 in the world, beat Frenchman Constant Lestienne 6-4, 6-4 and 7-6 (5). The 2017 junior Wimbledon champion equaled his best record in the first major of the season and will have a chance to overcome this barrier by playing in the next phase.
Something that Roberto Bautista and Roberto Carballés will not be able to do, after losing to the American Ben Shelton (16) and the French lucky-loser Hugo Gastón, respectively. The player from Castellón lost 2-6, 6-7 (2) and 5-7, while the player from Granada did the same 3-6, 2-6, 6-3 and 4-6. Tomorrow it will be Carlos Alcaraz's turn.
The Murcian awaits Richard Gasquet, 37 years old and former world number seven, this Tuesday in the first round. His match will be played around ten thirty in the morning (Spanish time). A meeting that is an incentive for the current number two in the ATP ranking, since he will return to compete in the Oceanic Grand Slam two years later.
In 2021, he entered from the qualifying phase and lost to Michael Ymer in the second round and in 2022 he fell in the third against the Italian Matteo Berrettini. Likewise, he was unable to compete in the last edition due to an injury to the semimembranosus muscle in his right leg.
Carlitos played two exhibition matches in Australia last week, in preparation for the Melbourne Open. One against the local player, Álex de Miñaur, and another against the Norwegian, Casper Ruud. The balance is one defeat and one victory for the El Palmar player who is on the verge of his debut at the Australian Open.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic already has a rival for the second round, the Australian Alexei Popyrin, after yesterday he beat his compatriot Dino Prizmic in 4h and 01m (6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3 and 6-4).
