Australian Open 2018: Men's Day 1 review
The first Grand Slam of 2018 got underway on Monday and went more or less according to script barring a few surprises. World No 1 and 2017 finalist, Rafael Nadal, put to rest any lingering injury doubts with a clinical 6-1 6-1 6-1 victory over Victor Estrella Burgos. The top seed did not show any ill-effects from the knee injury which caused him to withdraw from the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals last year and the Brisbane International this year.
No 3 seed Grigor Dimitrov made short work of Dennis Novak 6-3 6-2 6-1 while the sixth seed Marin Cilic took four sets to beat Canadian Pospisil, 6-2 6-2 4-6 7-6 (5). Nick Kyrgios and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advanced to the second round with clinical straight-set victories. Veterans Ivo Karlovic, Gilles Muller, Andreas Seppi, and Marcos Baghdatis also advanced with straight-set wins while Victor Troicki came back from two sets down to win in five sets.
Yuichi Sugita created the biggest upset of the day by beating American eighth seed Jack Sock 6-1 7-6(4) 5-7 6-3. John Isner then joined compatriot Sock on the sidelines as he was upset 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-3 by Australian Matthew Ebden. US Open finalist and 11th seed Kevin Anderson was knocked out in five sets by Kyle Edmund.
NextGen players fared well on Day 1. Andrey Rublev knocked out veteran David Ferrer in a tough five-setter. Denis Shapovalov, Pablo Carreno Busta and Diego Schwartzman advanced to Round 2 with three, four and five set victories respectively while Frenchman Lucas Pouille and Croat Borna Coric were knocked out.
Defending champion Roger Federer will be in action on Day 2 along with Alexander Zverev, David Goffin, Sam Querrey, and Juan Martin Del Potro. Also in action on Day 2 will be those returning from injury - Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, and Milos Raonic.