Australian Open 2023 week 1 updates
The GIST: We’re less than a week into the first Grand Slam of the year and it’s already been a tournament full of underdog wins and epic comebacks. But it’s all going down on Aussie time — here’s what you missed while you were taking Andy Murray’s advice and catching some Zs.
Serving upsets: No. 2 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia is leaving Australia early after being bested by No. 86 Marketa Vondrousova in a grueling three-set match yesterday. Jabeur was the runner-up at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year, and many expected her to win her first major Down Under. Oi oi oi…vey.
- On the men’s side, following his shocking loss to American Mackenzie McDonald earlier this week, No. 1 Rafael Nadal is out for weeks with a hip injury.
- As for McDonald, an upset streak wasn’t meant to be. The unseeded American’s run was cut short by Japan’s No. 31 Yoshihito Nishioka last night.
Rapid rally recap: No. 7 teenage phenom Coco Gauff is through to the fourth round after knocking out fellow American Bernarda Pera 6-3, 6-2 overnight. Also making the U.S. proud is No. 3 Jessica Pegula, who took down Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in straight sets while repping her family’s Bills.
- On the other hand, the stars and stripes had brutal luck on the men’s side, as No. 16 Frances Tiafoe lost to Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 early this morning.
