Daniil Medvedev thrashes Marcos Giron, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Frances Tiafoe go through

ByEurosport

Updated 16/01/2023 at 12:48 GMT

Last year's runner-up Daniil Medvedev got off to a perfect start with a dominant victory over American Marcos Giron. Despite some long games in the opening set, Medvedev found his stride and broke his opponent three times, before piling on the pressure for the rest of the match. Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk

Daniil Medvedev thrashed Marcos Giron 6-0 6-1 6-2 with a dominant display in the first round of the Australian Open.

Medvedev is second favourite to win the tournament, behind Novak Djokovic, and is looking to go one better than last year when he narrowly lost in the final to Rafael Nadal.

He will play Australian John Millman in the next round on Wednesday.

ATP Rome

Are Nadal, Alcaraz, Djokovic playing Italian Open? When does it start?

Yesterday at 10:50

Medvedev got off to a super start by breaking Giron in the second game, which lasted 13 minutes.

Giron had chances to break back later in the set, but failed to take them, as a ruthless Medvedev took a bagel in 36 minutes.

To the delight of the crowd in the Rod Laver Arena, Giron won his first game by holding serve early in the second set, before Medvedev stormed away to win the set in style.

Once again, Giron stepped up his game and held his opening two service games. The inevitable happened though as Medvedev broke in the fifth and seventh games which proved enough to win the match, even after a warning from the umpire for bad language.

Cube analysis on Medvedev - 'We've seen him do some very strange things'

Tsitsipas, Tiafoe and Auger-Aliassime have tougher matches

Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas didn’t have it as easy against Quentin Halys, having to play some of his best tennis to defeat the Frenchman 6-3 6-4 7-6(6)

Tsitsipas made two decisive breaks in each of the first two sets, before winning a close tie-break to get over the line.

He will play Australian Rinky Hijikata on Wednesday.

"I'm really glad to be playing flat out, like a lizard in the water," said Tsitsipas post-match. "I’m happy to be back in Australia, it’s one of my favourite places to be playing tennis.

"When I’m back here I’m really liking my time playing tennis, getting to see some of my cousins and feel like home here it’s great being back, it’s great getting support like this."

• ‘See you at the match’ – Djokovic message to fans allays injury fears
• ‘I’m devastated’ - Kyrgios pulls out of Australian Open due to injury

US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe required four sets to beat Daniel Altmaier 6-3 6-3 6-7(5) 7-6 (6), as did Felix Auger-Aliassime who got the better of compatriot Vasek Pospisil.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Hubert Hurkacz, Denis Shapovalov and Karen Khachanov but former champion Stanislas Wawrinka is out.

ATP Madrid

Highlights: Medvedev hits Masters milestone as he beats Bublik to reach quarters

00:01:34

|

30/04/2024 at 13:42

Tennis

Madrid Open: Are Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz and Raducanu playing?

24/04/2024 at 08:40

ATP Monte Carlo

'Open your freaking eyes' - Medvedev rages again in Monte Carlo defeat

11/04/2024 at 14:25