Australian Open: Sofia Kenin stunned

America’s Sofia Kenin returns to Madison Keys on Day One of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park yesterday. Pics/Getty Images

American Madison Keys relied on her big serve on key points to outclass 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 7-6 (2), 7-5 on John Cain Arena on Monday and reach the second round of the year's first Grand Slam. Former US Open runner-up Keys, who won her first trophy since 2019 at the Adelaide International 2 warm-up event last week, struggled to gain the upper hand in the contest before sealing the opening set in a tiebreak with her eighth ace.

"My serve was helping out a lot today, being able to close that out, to start on the front foot and to not have to work my way back into the match was really helpful," Keys, who finished with 15 aces, told reporters. "I feel I've really found my rhythm with that, it really helped me close out the first and second set in big moments." Keys faces Jaqueline Cristian next, after the Romanian beat compatriot Greet Minnen 7-5, 6-4.

Gauff ousted

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal and Ashleigh Barty made devastating starts to their Australian Open title campaigns on Monday as the Grand Slam attempted to move on from the Novak Djokovic visa saga. Naomi Osaka launched the defence of her women's crown with victory but Coco Gauff was an early big-name casualty, the American, 17, surprisingly losing 6-4, 6-2 to China's Wang, who is ranked outside the Top 100. Nadal started his quest to become the first male to win 21 Grand Slams by sweeping aside 66th-ranked Marcos Giron, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. There was to be no fairytale run for "lucky loser" Salvatore Caruso.

Caruso falls at 1st hurdle

The Italian had earned a place in the main draw when Djokovic was deported but he fell at the first hurdle. In the women's draw, top seed and World No.1 Barty made a real statement of intent, crushing qualifier Lesia Tsurenko in 54 minutes, 6-0, 6-1. Barty faces Lucia Bronzetti of Italy next as the pre-tournament favourite and home hope chases a maiden Australian Open title.

Japan's former World No.1 Osaka was also largely untroubled with a 6-3, 6-3 win against Colombia's Camila Osorio. Also through are French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, Greek fifth seed Maria Sakkari and reigning Olympic champion Belinda Bencic. But there was heartbreak for Tunisian ninth seed Ons Jabeur, who did not even make it onto court and withdrew because of injury before her match.

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