The 2021 edition of the Australian Open starts on the 8th of February 2021 in Australia after the players were made to undergo compulsory two week quarantines upon their arrival in the country for the first Grand Slam of the year.
20 time Grand Slam winner, Roger Federer announced his decision to pull out of the event as he recovered from knee surgery.
Federer’s absence means that Rafael Nadal now has the opportunity to pull clear of Federer on the men’s all-time Grand Slam winners’ list.
World Number 1, Novak Djokovic would also look to add to his 17 Grand Slam titles as he comes into the Australian Open.
Former Grand Slam winner, Andy Murray also misses out on the 2021 Australian Open with COVID-19 after he was handed a wildcard slot.
In the women’s edition, World number 10, Serena Williams would look to finally banish the spirits of her Grand Slam losses and equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slams.
On the first day of the tournament, some big shocks were recorded as World number 10 Frenchman, Gael Monfils lost to unseeded Finn, Emil Ruusuvuori.
Monfils blamed his loss on the COVID situation, as he is yet to record a single victory since the resumption of sports following the first pandemic lockdown. Australia’s own player, John Millman was also shocked by unseeded Frenchman, Corentin Moutet in 5 sets 6-4 6-7 3-6 6-2 6-3, making him the second big name casualty from Day 1 of the tournament holding in his home nation.
Former female world number 1 and current world number 25, Angelique Kerber was also defeated by unseeded American, Bernada Pera 6-0 6-4 in another first day shock result.
In some of the early results of the day in the women’s tournament, world number 10, Serena Williams defeated German Laura Siegemund 6-1 6-1.
Japanese-American world number 3, Naomi Osaka defeated Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1 6-2 to progress to the second round.
Canadian world number 8, Bianca Andreescu defeated Mikaela Buzarnescu in 4 sets 6-2 6-2 4-6 6-3 to qualify for the second round.
Teenage French Open champion, Iga Swiatek defeated unseeded Dutch player, Arantxa Rus 6-1 6-3 to progress. Venus Williams won 7-5 6-2 on straight sets against Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens to secure a place in the next round.
In the men’s event, Austria’s Dominic Thiem defeated Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 7-6 6-2 6-3 to progress, as Stanislas Wawrinka defeated Pedro Sousa 6-3 6-2 6-4 as well. Spaniard, Pablo Carreno Busta knocked out Japanese former Grand Slam winner, Kei Nishikori with a scoreline of 7-5 7-6 6-2. Alexander Zverev defeated American Marcos Giron 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-2 as he made his way into the second round of the tournament.
The first round action continues with home favourite and volatile character, Nick Kyrgios taking on Portuguese Frederico Ferreira Silva in his opener, and world number 1, the Serb Novak Djokovic would take on unseeded Frenchman, Jeremy Chardy.
Rafael Nadal also opens his account against Serbia’s Laslo Dere in the first round. In the women’s event, Simona Halep will look to make her way past Lizette Cabrera in the first round of the tournament.
Most fans are betting on tennis superstar, Serena Williams to finally get the 24th Grand Slam that has evaded her since childbirth.