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Mahut, Stakhovsky among first-round casualties

Former World No. 17 Bernard Tomic advanced to the second round of qualifying for the Australian Open on Wednesday. Now ranked No. 142 in the ATP Rankings, the Australian knocked out France’s Vincent Millot 6-1, 6-3 in 48 minutes.

Tomic, who needs to win two more matches in order to compete in the main draw for the 10th straight year, lost just eight points in the 15-minute first set. He’ll now play American Tommy Paul.

Groth, who watched Tomic’s victory courtside, was not so fortunate. American Taylor Fritz beat the Australian, who will retire from professional tennis after the first Grand Slam championship of the year, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3) for a second-round test against Mathias Bourgue of France. The 30-year-old Groth will play doubles with former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in Melbourne next week.

Serbia’s Danilo Petrovic, currently No. 255 in the ATP Rankings, knocked out second seed Nicolas Mahut of France 7-6(4), 6-3, while former World No. 25 Vasek Pospisil struck 12 aces in a 7-5, 7-6(3) victory over Lorenzo Giustino in one hour and 33 minutes.

Elsewhere, German No. 17 seed Dustin Brown beat Guido Andreozzi of Argentina 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and Brown’s compatriot Matthias Bachinger ousted Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3.

A total of 64 qualifying matches were completed at Melbourne Park on Wednesday. The draw ceremony for the Australian Open will be held on Margaret Court Arena at 8am GMT on 11 January.

Author
David Packman

Fans visiting Melbourne Park on Wednesday witnessed a host of upsets as a number of higher seeds fell on the first day of men’s qualifying action at Australian Open 2018.

If not for a narrow escape by top seed Taylor Fritz, the first three seeds may have all been casualties. As it was, the American held his nerve and edged out big-serving Sam Groth 6-4 3-6 7-6(3) in what became the hometown player’s last singles appearance before retirement.

“Just really happy to get out of that one,” Fritz said after the match. “I knew there was a good chance we could go 7-6 in the third, and we did. I was prepared for that and I think it helped me a lot.”

With a parochial crowd packed into Show Court 3 – perhaps unusual for an opening round of qualifying – Fritz said he enjoyed the experience.

“I knew they would be cheering for Sam,” he said. “You have to. Hopefully I will get some love next round.”

Second-seeded French veteran Nicolas Mahut was not so lucky, falling to Serb Danilo Petrovic – the world No.255 – in straight sets 7-6(4) 6-3.

Wildcard Bradley Mousley kept the upsets coming, posting a career-best win in his 6-3 7-6(3) defeat of Italian Marco Cecchinato, the No.3 seed. In a polished display, the Australian cruised past the world No.103 without so much as offering a break point.

Federico Gaio went some way to righting the ship for the Italians, shutting down Swiss No.14 seed Henri Laaksonen 6-4 6-3.

Meanwhile, American Kevin King became the first man to reach the second round of qualifying at this year’s Australian Open, ousting Uladzimir Ignatik, the No.31 seed from Belarus, 7-6(2) 6-2.

Elsewhere, Argentinian Renzo Olivo (No.32) fell to Czech Vaclav Safranek, the world No.227, and American Denis Kudla stunned seventh-seeded Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3 7-5.

Earlier in the day, flamboyant German Dustin Brown (seeded No.17) headlined the early action and was quick out of the blocks, snaring the opening set in a fraction over half an hour before being pegged back by Argentinian Guido Andreozzi, who levelled proceedings in similar fashion.

Brown broke early in the decider and despite needing six deuces to hold serve in the following game was not deterred, maintaining his advantage to post a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory.

“I think I played very well today,” Brown said. “I didn’t play as well as I would have liked in Doha, but I’ve had plenty of time to practice.”

Brown, now recovered from a back injury sustained last season, said the main thing was confidence.

“My tennis is definitely there and this is a big step in the right direction,” he said. “The feeling is coming back more and more and I’m starting to be able to rely more on my serve in big points.

“Closing out that third set like I did today was good. I’m very happy to get through. These are the matches I need.”

While China’s Di Wu defeated local wildcard Dayne Kelly 6-1 7-6(3), Australian hopes fared better later in the day with John-Patrick Smith, a recent qualifier in Brisbane, holding off Bosnian Aldin Setkic 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3. He will next face Brit Cameron Norrie, the sixth seed accounting for Canadian Filip Peliwo in three tight sets.

Andrew Whittington was also a highlight for the host nation, taking out rising American and last week’s Brisbane quarterfinalist Michael Mmoh 7-6(2) 6-1, while Bernard Tomic, the No.29 seed, spent just 48 minutes in brushing aside Frenchman Vincent Millot for the loss of just four games, 6-1 6-3. Tomic will next play American Tommy Paul, a 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 7-6(5) winner over Slovenian Blaz Rola.

Local wildcard Blake Ellis almost added to the Australian success, holding multiple match points against fellow teenager Stefan Kozlov before falling to the American 7-6(3) 6-4 7-6(3).

No.5 seed Vasek Pospisil and Kazakh Alexander Bublik (No.9) headlined the remainder of the surviving seeds, defeating Italian Lorenzo Guistino and Goncalo Oliviera of Portugal respectively.

What is it?
It's the season-opening grand slam of the tennis year.

When is it?
It all gets under way on Monday, January 15 and runs until Sunday, January 28, 2018.

What TV channel is it on?
Eurosport UK has exclusive rights to the first grand slam of the year. The Discovery-owned channel will broadcast action throughout the fortnight across their Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 channels.

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When will the matches be played UK time?
With Melbourne 11 hours ahead of GMT, matches will range from starting at midnight UK time to anything up to 10am UK time. The evening sessions will start around 8am UK time.

The finals will begin at 8.30am UK time on both Saturday, January 27 (women's) and Sunday, January 28 (men's).


Where is it?
It all takes place at Melbourne Park, in, er Melbourne obviously. It's three main courts, the Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena and refurbished Margaret Court Arena all have retractable roofs.

Melbourne Park stages the Australian Open
Melbourne Park stages the Australian Open CREDIT: REUTERS
What is the draw?
The draw will take place on Thursday, January 11 at 8am UK time.

What is the prize money?
The overall prize pot has increased by 10 per cent which means this year's champions will pocket £2.32m a piece.


Who are the reigning champions?
This year's tournament will have to go some to trump the astonishing 2017 edition which rolled back the years to see Serena Williams and Roger Federer crowned champions.

It later transpired that Serena won her seventh title in Melbourne in an all-Williams final while deep into her first trimester. Federer, meanwhile, was returning from a long lay-off to clinch his 18th grand slam and first in five years with a five-set victory over rival Rafael Nadal.

Which players are missing?
Andy Murray has been forced to withdraw from his second successive grand slam with a long-standing hip complaint. Murray has not played competitively since Wimbledon last summer and must now decide whether he needs surgery to overcome the issue.

Andy Murray dejected
Andy Murray has withdrawn due to his long-standing hip injury CREDIT: PA
Kei Nishikori also misses out with a wrist injury while there are still question marks over the fitness of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Garbine Muguruza and Johanna Konta. Serena Williams is yet to decide whether she will compete just four months after giving birth to her daughter while Victoria Azarenka is still in an on-going legal battle over the custody of her young son.

Who are the favourites?
Men's

Federer 2/1

Nadal 4/1

Djokovic 5/1

Dimitrov 9/1

Zverev 9/1

Del Potro 14/1

Kyrgios 20/1

Wawrinka 25/1

Goffin 25/1

Thiem 25/1


Women's

S Williams 9/2

Muguruza 6/1

Ka Pliskova 9/1

Wozniacki 11/1

Sharapova 11/1

Halep 12/1


Svitolina 16/1

Azarenka 16/1

Kvitova 16/1

Keys 16/1

The Australian Open prize pot has been increased by 10 per cent to $55 million (AUD) (£31.8m) for this year's edition which includes the return of some of the men's big-name players.

The men's and women's winners will pocket a $4-million (£2.32m) cheque which is up from £2.14m in 2017.

Finalists will earn £1.16m for their efforts while first-round losers stand to earn £28,900.

Roger Federer will defend the men's title in a field which welcomes back some much missed stars.

Six-times champion Novak Djokovic is scheduled to return following a six-month absence with an elbow injury. Stan Wawrinka will make his first competitive bow since being knocked out of the first-round of Wimbledon last summer.

There will be some noticeable absentees with Andy Murray pulling out due to an going hip injury.

Women's champion Serena Williams, meanwhile, decided she was not physically return to make her return from maternity leave despite an appearance in Abu Dhabi at the end of December.

Williams won her seventh Australian Open and Open-era 23rd grand slam deep into her first trimester last year.

The winner of this year's Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup will receive the trophy from Billie Jean King, 50 years after she won her first Aussie Open title.
The US Open remains the most lucrative slam of the four majors. Last year Rafael Nadal and Sloane Stephens both received £2.74m each for winning their respective single's titles.