Melbourne (AFP)
The strong wind that blew Wednesday in Melbourne pushed the favorites in the back: neither the defending champions Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic, nor the world N.1 Ashleigh Barty lingered on the courts in the 2nd round of the Open d 'Australia.
In the evening, Serena Williams and Roger Federer took advantage of the roof of the Rod Laver Arena to also qualify without problems.
Djokovic, winner of the Japanese Tatsuma Ito (146th) 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in 1h35, said he was "generally satisfied with his performance", he who had given up a set in the first round.
"With these weather conditions, you have to accept having to fight not only against the opponent, but also against the wind. I accepted it, I played extremely well at the start of the match and I led 5-0 after 15 minutes ", he analyzed, emphasizing the efficiency of his service during the first two rounds of the tournament.
"This is one of my goals in training: to find a way to earn points easily," he said.
The discussions he had the day before with his compatriot Filip Krajinovic, on the other hand, had no effect: the latter bowed heavily to Roger Federer 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.
- "Not fair" -
"This is a very good start to the season. I am very relaxed off the courts and I have worked a lot in the off season. It pays off," said the 38-year-old Swiss, who was playing only his second game. of the year.
The weather conditions on Monday meant that if Federer could have played under the roof of the Rod Laver Arena, Krajinovic had to play his first round on Tuesday and it took him almost four hours to qualify in 5 sets before playing again in stride without a day of rest.
"I thought about it a bit (at the end of the match), it's true and I thought it was not fair," said Federer, admitting that he had not hesitated to grasp it, however. the opportunity to close the match.
On the contrary, despite their victories, Osaka and Serena were not entirely happy with their game.
"What did I do best today? It was winning the match," said the 22-year-old Japanese woman who defeated China's Saisai Zheng (42nd) 6-2, 6-4 in 1:20 but fears for a moment of being embarked in a 3rd set after losing twice his service in the second round.
- Osaka-Gauff revenge -
"She sent everything away! I said to myself + but will I end up making a winning move? + And she: + No, I will send everything back to you! +", Added the 4th world who expected to feel this kind of " frustration "against this opponent.
After a good first set, Serena found herself a little more under pressure.
"It's my fault, I started making far too many faults. In any case, more faults than what I usually do in my good games," said the player, who aims at 38 24th Grand Slam title.
In front of his audience, Barty dispatched Slovenian Polona Hercog (48th) 6-1, 6-4 in 1h06.
She made three of her seven break points and saved the six she had conceded to Hercog. "I absolutely had to play these important points well," she said.
Good news also for the tournament, the qualification of the youngest player of the Open, rising tennis star, Coco Gauff who, after having once again eliminated Venus Williams in the first round, as at Wimbledon last year, has ruled out Sorana Cirstea (74th) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 and will face Osaka.
The Japanese defeated the American in the third round at Flushing Meadows last year. "But this time I think I will be less nervous, warned Gauff. I will be more confident now that I know what his ball looks like."
© 2020 AFP