Rafael Nadal kicked off his Australian Open title defense with a four-set victory over Britain’s Jack Draper on Monday, as home prospect Nick Kyrgios retired through injury without touching a ball.
In the women’s draw, top seed Iga Swiatek survived a tough test while Jessica Pegula and teenage prodigy Coco Gauff were both the clear winners on the first day of action.
Spaniard great Nadal, 36, had been in poor form by his exorbitant standards, losing six of his last seven matches dating back to defeat in the last 16 at the US Open.
In the fast-rising 21-year-old Draper, the 22-time Grand Slam champion faced a stern test to start his campaign in sweltering Melbourne Park.
Top-seeded Nadal recovered from a second-set wobble – and a bizarre incident when a ball boy accidentally picked up his racquet – to defeat the 38th-seeded Briton 7-5, 2-6, 6 -4, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena.
Nadal, who recently became a father, faces American Mackenzie McDonald in the second round.
“Very exciting, fresh start, just super happy to be back at Rod Laver with a win that I needed,” he said after crushing Draper.
“The last few months have not been easy for me.”
Nadal was on the pitch when the talented but temperamental Australian Kyrgios called a hastily arranged press conference and announced he was out of the tournament with a knee injury.
“I’m devastated, obviously,” said the Wimbledon runner-up, who was seen as an outside bet to win a first Grand Slam crown.
“I had great tournaments here, winning the doubles last year and playing the tennis of my life probably before this event.
“I’m just exhausted from everything, and (it’s) obviously pretty brutal.”
The first Grand Slam of the year had already lost several stars in the preparation.
Injured men’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz and two-time Melbourne champion Naomi Osaka – who is expecting her first child – are among the other players missing.
Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who was detained and ejected ahead of last year’s tournament after refusing to take a Covid shot, begins his title push on Tuesday.
Other winners on Monday included third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz and 11th seed Cameron Norrie, on a day of few shocks.
Sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Vasek Pospisil in a Canadian matchup.
But the 21st seed, Borna Coric, fell to Czech player Jiri Lehecka in straight sets.
– ‘Focused on myself’ –
In the women’s draw, heavy favorite Swiatek was far from at her best against Jule Niemeier but got the job done, 6-4, 7-5.
“Honestly, I wanted to focus on myself because I know Jule serves amazingly and was really pushing, putting pressure on me,” said Swiatek, who landed just 49% of his first serves.
“So I’m pretty happy that I got through this game because the first round is always tricky, and I guess an opponent like Jule makes it even harder.”
The Pole, who is aiming for an Australian Open crown to win major titles at the US Open and Roland Garros, will next face Colombia’s Camila Osorio.
In form, Pegula beat 161st-ranked Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 6-0, 6-1 in 59 minutes to signal her intention.
Fellow American Gauff was equally explosive in the second round race with a 6-1, 6-4 beating Czech Katerina Siniakova.
Gauff, 18, now faces a tantalizing encounter against former US Open champion Emma Raducanu.
This will be the very first meeting between Gauff and Raducanu, 20, two rising stars of women’s tennis.
“I’m really looking forward to this game,” said Raducanu.
“I’m very much into it. Coco has obviously done a lot of great things and she’s playing well.
“I think we’re both good young players, we’re both doing well – part of the next generation of tennis really – it’s going to be a great game.”
Another American, Danielle Collins, the finalist beaten last year in Melbourne, has also taken the plunge.
Greek sixth seed Maria Sakkari also won and Victoria Azarenka beat Sofia Kenin in a battle of two former Australian Open champions.
But two seeds fell at the first hurdle, Czech 25th seed Marie Bouzkova and American 28th seed Amanda Anisimova.
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