Failed start at the Australian Open: In the first six matches with German participation, there was not a single win at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.

The tennis professionals Oscar Otte, Daniel Altmaier, Yannick Hanfmann, Tamara Korpatsch, Eva Lys and Jule Niemeier all suffered defeats.

Wimbledon quarter-finalist Niemeier missed a surprise for her part.

The 23-year-old lost her first round duel with the Polish world number one Iga Swiatek on Monday despite a good performance 4: 6, 5: 7.

That was "a real test" for Swiatek, said national coach Barbara Rittner at Eurosport, and Niemeier "did it really well".

As in the round of 16 of the US Open last September, the Dortmund player demanded everything from the Pole in the Rod Laver Arena.

In the end, the greater experience and quality of the favorite prevailed.

Basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki, who was a decent tennis player in his youth, also followed Niemeier's first appearance in the main draw of the Australian Open in the stands.

Altmaier is defeated by Tiafoe

Despite a strong performance from the third set, Daniel Altmaier (24) drew 3: 6, 3: 6, 7: 6 (7: 5), 6: 7 (6: 8 ) the shortest.

Tiafoe now faces Otte-Besieger Shang in the second round.

Yannick Hanfmann from Karlsruhe also missed the first German success, with a 6: 4, 6: 4, 3: 6, 6: 7 (5: 7), 3: 6 in 4:25 hours despite the best chances against the local hero who never gave up Rinky Hijikata lost. 

27-year-old Tamara Korpatsch lost 3-6, 2-6 to former US Open winner Emma Raducanu from Great Britain.

Eva Lys from Hamburg won the first set against the Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa, but lost in the end 6:2, 0:6, 2:6.

The 21-year-old, who was in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time thanks to three convincing victories in qualifying, had to have his right wrist treated in the second set.

Otte "like a garbage can"

Oscar Otte was hard on himself after his end.

"I felt like I was on the pitch like a garbage can and just couldn't manage to play a reasonable return with my backhand," said the Davis Cup player after the deserved 2: 6, 4: 6, 7: 6 ( 7-2), 5-7 loss at Melbourne Park on Monday to qualifier Shang Juncheng.

Otte couldn't find a match against the only 17-year-old Chinese from the start.

“You have to be completely open and honest with yourself: It was mostly up to me today.

Against such an opponent you have to use serve and return - that didn't work at all today," said the Cologne native: "It's just amazing what happened today.

I still can't quite believe it."

"really sucks"

Otte was also so disappointed because he had worked "to the point of throwing up" in preparation for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.

"Physically, I felt good on the pitch, I could have played ten more sets.

It's frustrating that the tennis and the head aren't there," said the 29-year-old.

The sport is "sometimes really corrosive, but I still love it and keep at it".

Since his knee injury last year, Otte has rarely been able to perform at his best.

Maybe he is now looking for the help of mental coaches.

"Maybe there was something in your head that you would have to talk to an expert about," said Otte.

He had "played uncomfortable, somehow stuck".

"Maybe there's something in the subconscious."

Out for Kyrgios

Meanwhile, the Australian Open lost one of its attractions on the first day.

Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios canceled his participation in the home tournament on Monday due to knee problems.

"It's just brutal," said the Australian tennis pro: "It's the most important tournament, but that's life.

Injuries are part of sport.”

According to his physiotherapist, who was also on the podium at the press conference on Monday afternoon (local time), the meniscus injury is not something very serious.

"We wanted to save him from another injury or a worsening of the injury," he said.

Kyrgios will therefore not compete in Melbourne and will now undergo an arthroscopy.

No. 19 seed Kyrgios should have played his first-round match against Russian Roman Safiullin on Tuesday.

The highly talented, but also often moody Australian was considered one of the great advertising media for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.

In the new tennis documentary "Break Point" on Netflix, the 27-year-old is the main protagonist of the opening episode.

"I don't doubt at all that I will find my way back to my old strength," said Kyrgios.

The American Denis Kudla, who moved up into the main draw as a lucky loser in the qualification, will benefit from his resignation.