Melbourne (AFP)
It goes for Kristina Mladenovic, not for Quentin Halys.
The Blues start their second day at the Australian Open in a mixed bag, after a rather fruitful Monday where eight of the ten French entries had qualified for the rest of the competition, despite the eliminations of Gael Monfils and Benoit Paire .
Two trap matches still await this Tuesday Pierre-Hugues Herbert against the unpredictable Italian Fabio Fognini, and Gilles Simon against the world No.6 Stefanos Tsitsipas.
For their part, defending champion Sofia Kenin and last year's runner-up Garbine Muguruza qualified for the second round, as did Andrey Rublev, still unperturbed, while Rafael Nadal has just entered the running.
- Mladenovic is doing it -
She did not have an easy draw but Kristina Mladenovic still managed to overcome (6-2, 0-6, 6-3) a too feverish Maria Sakkari.
The Greek, 23rd in the world, nevertheless came out of a good series of semi-finals (Ostrava, Abu Dhabi and the Grampians Trophy last week), but with 44 unforced errors, she could not hope to win against a "Kiki" who was able to return to his match despite a big air hole in the second set.
Mladenovic, a former world No. 10 in singles who won the doubles title in Melbourne last year - but will not defend it this year due to a pain in his elbow - had not spent a lap in the Australian Grand Slam since 2016.
- Halys falls -
Quentin Halys remains stuck in the Grand Slam, in which he has not won any victory in the main draw since 2016.
The 2021 edition of the Australian Open was no exception to the rule, with an elimination in the first round against the Spaniard Pablo Andujar (59th).
The French, 207th in the world and resulting from qualifications, will not have made the weight.
The two other French qualifiers, Clara Burel and Chloé Paquet, are also expected on the courts of Melbourne Park this Tuesday, respectively against the Egyptian Mayar Sherif (128th), also after qualifying, and the Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck (67th ).
Maybe with a second round?
- Kenin still nervous -
The defending champion Sofia Kenin held her place by passing without too much trouble a first round well within her reach against the Australian Madison Inglis (133rd), recipient of an invitation, 7-5, 6-4.
But very stressed at the idea of defending her title, the 4th in the world recognizes that she still has a few adjustments to make.
"I am not yet completely satisfied with the way I played, but I will make sure to be ready for the next round", she assured at the end of her match, still enamelled of waste (27 unforced errors).
A problem that the Russian Andrey Rublev did not know, easy winner of the German Yannick Hanfmann (102nd), 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, in 1h43, two days after his coronation in the ATP Cup with the Russia.
"I managed to take control of the game almost from the start, to win in three sets. I'm very happy, and now let's see what awaits me," he said, visibly ready. to do battle after the game.
In the next round, he will be opposed to the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro (74th).
Daniil Medvedev, the other Russian in shape at the moment, also won his ticket for the rest of the competition against the Canadian Vasek Pospisil (63rd).
He thus continues his 15th victory in a row.
The finalist of the 2020 edition of the Australian Grand Slam, Garbine Muguruza also obtained without too much difficulty his qualification by easily beating the lucky loser (drafted) Russian Margarita Gasparyan (127th), 6-4, 6-0.
On the other hand, a former double winner in Melbourne and former world No. 1, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, took the front door, beaten by the American Jessica Pegula (61st).
© 2021 AFP