Swiatek Crosses Niemeier Hurdle To Enter Round-two

MELBOURNE: World No.1 Iga Swiatek of Poland began her 2023 Australian Open campaign with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win over Germany's Jule Niemeier on Monday. Swiatek will face Colombia's Camila Osorio in the second round on Wednesday.

A semifinalist in Melbourne last year, Swiatek worked hard in her opener. The 21-year-old made clear before the tournament she was not taking Niemeier lightly, and the German once again proved to be a tough matchup for the World No.1.

Victoria Azarenka confessed to some nerves before coming through a tough first-round battle against Sofia Kenin 6-4, 7-6(3) on Monday to ensure she would be the only former Australian Open champion remaining in the women's draw. Danielle Collins, runner up to Ash Barty at Melbourne Park last year, had an injury timeout for a knee issue before grinding out a 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 win over Anna Kalinskaya. Canadian Bianca Andreescu, the 2020 champion at Flushing Meadows, beat Marie Bouzkova 6-2 6-4, while 2021 winner Emma Raducanu made light work of Tamara Korpatsch in a 6-3, 6-2 victory. American teen sensation Coco Gauff also opened her 2023 Australian Open campaign with a victory here on Monday. The 18-year-old Gauff advanced to the second round with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova. Elsewhere at Court 7, Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk defeated No 28 seed Amanda Anisimova, 6-3, 6-4 in a straight set.

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