2013 Australian Open Round 1 Wrap-up
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The tennis world is buzzing as the opening round of the 2013 Australian Open is complete. Though not the first event of the season, the Australian Open is the first Grand Slam of the year, and is the first event to gain widespread fan interest.
This year, the men’s field seems a little less stellar, with the absense of Rafael Nadal (illness) and Americans Mardy Fish (illness), John Isner (injury), and Andy Roddick (retired).
Only 8 Americans qualified for the field, with 5 advancing to the 2nd round.
The primary men’s favorites to win, No.1 Novak Djokovic, No. 2 Roger Federer, and No. 3 Andy Murray all cruised to the 2nd round with easy victories.
Five seeded players were knocked out of the tournament, most notably No. 11 Juan Monaco from Argentina, who was eliminated by Russian Andrey Kuznetsov in straight sets.
Matches to watch in Round 2 are Djokovic versus the young American Ryan Harrison, the all-American match between No. 20 Sam Querrey and Brian Baker, the battle between the journeymen Feliciano Lopez and Radek Stepanek, and Roger Federer taking on former world No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko.
On the Women’s side, it is still the Williams sisters who are carrying the banner for the USA. Both No. 3 Serena and No. 25 Venus easily won their opening matches by a combined score of 24-1. Serena rolled her ankle in her opening match, but
continued playing. The extent of her injury could have a major impact on the tournament, as she is favored by most to win the title.
No. 1 Victoria Azarenka and No. 2 Maria Sharapova both advanced with easy wins. Six seeded players lost in the first round, most notably No. 7 Sara Errani.
11 Americans were entered into the tournament, with only 6 advancing to Round 2: the Williams sisters, No. 21 Varvara Lepchenko, No. 29 Sloane Stephens, Jamie Hampton, and Madison Keys.
In the second round, Hampton will have a good opportunity as she faces qualifier Luksika Kumkhum from Thailand.
Other matches to watch are Kimiko Date-Krumm from Japan against Israeli Shahar Peer. Date-Krumm upset No. 12 Nadio Petrova to become the oldest woman ever to win a match at the tournament. At age 42, she will face an oppenent 17 years younger in Peer. Venus Williams will face veteran Alize Cornet in Round 2. Cornet, who has been ranked as high as No. 11 in the world, is a hit-or-miss player who can give Williams trouble when she is in the zone.
