As the Australian Open starts to unfold, big names have already begun to fall in the tournament’s first round, shocking tennis fans and match predictors worldwide.
Australian Open day 1: Who was the biggest upset?
Caroline Wozniacki
Former World #1 had breezed through the first set against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva, recording a comfortable 6-1 as the match kept its course for Wozniacki.
However, an ankle injury after losing the second set in a tiebreaker allowed Putintseva to complete the upset and defeat the tournament’s 16th-seed 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.
Since reaching the semifinals in 2011, Wozniacki’s results have gotten worse by the year as she progressively reduces to advance by a round each year at Melbourne Park.
After bowing out in the second round in last year’s edition, and being dispatched in the first this season, the Danish star did not hold back her emotions during the press conference.
Wozniacki said: “I would say it’s a pretty S*** way to start the season.
“I let her back into the match, and it was basically my own fault that I’m not here as the winner.”
Putnitseva will now play in her second round China’s Han Xinyun.
Benoit Paire
In one of the biggest upsets in Monday’s first round matches in the Australian Open men’s singles draw was the victory of American wildcard Noah Rubin, who is ranked 328th, over 19th seed Frenchman Benoit Paire 7-6(4), 7-6(6), 7-6(5).
Paire did not hold back at the press conference after the match, declaring harsh statements against his opponent and making it clear he had a terrible day.
“I played against a not good player, but I was very bad today so that’s it, I lost.
“I didn’t know him and after this match, I said, yes, he’s not a good player.”
He also describes Monday’s loss as a “catastrophe.”
The New York native, playing in only his second career match in a Grand Slam, made the most out his wild card knocking out Paire, who recently played the semifinals in the Chennai Open.
19-year-old Rubin will next face Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the second round on Wednesday.
Sloane Stevens
World #26 Sloane Stevens was ambushed by Chinese qualifier Wang Qiang, who pulled off a stunning but firm two-set upset 6-3, 6-3.
Although Stevens started off with a 3-1 lead, The Tianjin, China native started to control the match as it progressed from the baseline.
Wang then cruised through the first set and broke serve at the beginning of the second, leaving Stevens without a chance to react or to come back into the match.
Stevens said, “Today was definitely one of those bad days.
“Nothing was going my way.”
The World #110 will now face Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam
Ivo Karlovic
Young Argentinian Federico Delbonis, in only his third experience in the first Grand Slam of the season, reached the second round after overcoming World #24 Ivo Karlovic, securing his best-ever performance at Melbourne Park.
Karlovic, who arrived Melbourne as the 12th seed, was diminished by discomfort in his knee and back during the second set and beyond.
The powerful serving Croat, one of the four players able to defeat Novak Djokovic during the 2015 campaign, had to abandon in the third set due to injuries, giving place for the 25-year-old to advance to the next round 7-6(4), 6-4, 2-1 (retired).
“I felt good, I served well. I had to play well from the baseline and wait for chances.
“I was going to have a few chances, but new that I should take them. It was important not to hurry, he knew that he plays with your desperation, and looks to cut off points,” said Worlds #53 Delbonis.
In the next instance, Delbonis will face against fellow landsman Renzo Olivo.
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