Stars fall like pack of cards at Australian Open

AFP, MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal and Simona Halep were sent crashing out of the Australian Open first round on Tuesday as a dramatic day of upsets shifted the landscape of the year's first Grand Slam.
Nadal suffered one of the worst Grand Slam results of his career as he was stunned by fellow Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco in a five-set thriller which recalled their epic 2009 semi-final.
Halep, the women's world number two, soon followed him out in an almighty upset by Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai — who wept freely as she won her first Grand Slam match in 15 attempts.
While Halep's defeat to Zhang, the world number 133, came out of the blue, it was Nadal's loss which created concern as the 14-time Grand Slam-winner increasingly looks a fading force.
Nadal, 29, has only ever lost once before in a Grand Slam first round, at Wimbledon 2013, but he has not gone further than the quarter-finals at the majors since he won the 2014 French Open.
"It's tough, but at the same time, I know I did everything that I can to be ready for it," said Nadal, after 45th-ranked Verdasco's 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 win in four hours, 41 minutes.
"Was not my day. Let's keep going. That's the only thing. There is no more thing to do than keep practising hard, keep practising the same way that I was doing the last four, five months."
The big upsets at least drew attention away from a match-fixing controversy which hit the start of the tournament after a report said top players had been under suspicion but never punished.
Andy Murray, a four-time finalist who is seeking his first win in Melbourne, dispatched Germany's Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in hot conditions to move into the second round.
Afterwards the world number two, who is awaiting the imminent birth of his first child and has pledged to race home if his wife goes into labour, immediately checked his phone for news.
"I'm hoping my phone hasn't been buzzing in my bag. Kim will message my team if anything goes on and we'll see what happens," he said.
Rising star Garbine Muguruza beat Estonian debutante Anett Kontaveit 6-0, 6-4 in one hour exactly — and immediately set her sights on dethroning Serena Williams in the final.
"To win the Grand Slam here you are going to have to beat Serena (Williams). It will be great if I can play against her," said the confident Spanish world number three.
Temperatures of 33 Celsius (91.4 Fahrenheit) took their toll and Diego Schwartzman was stretchered off after retiring in the fourth set against John Millman with cramps.
While Murray and Muguruza motored through, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams suffered an early exit when she lost to British number one Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-2.
Williams, 35, was the oldest player in the women's draw but Konta said it would be "silly" to focus on the American's age.
"I think it would be silly to look at Venus' age and somehow consider that as a reflection of her level," said the 24-year-old.
"I think it's irrelevant how old she is because she's such a champion with so much experience and so much knowledge about the game."
Milos Raonic, who is now working with Carlos Moya and beat Roger Federer in this month's Brisbane final, breezed past Lucas Pouille and into the second round.
But it was a different story for Gilles Muller, who came through four tie-breaks to beat Fabio Fognini, but not before the Italian showed flashes of his famous temper.
Jeremy Chardy had an even bigger struggle, winning the fifth-set 13-11 to finally overcome Ernests Gulbis after four hours and 43 minutes.
Among the evening matches, Australia's former world number one Lleyton Hewitt was playing compatriot James Duckworth in what is his last tournament before retiring.
Meanwhile, Nadal did his best to shrug off his latest Grand Slam setback on Tuesday and pledged to fight on — despite the "crazy", go-for-broke tennis now played by some of his rivals.
"The match is a tough loss for me, especially because it's not like last year when I arrived here playing bad and feeling myself not ready for it," Nadal said.
"This year was a completely different story. I have been playing and practising great and working so much.
"You know it's tough when you work so much and arrive at a very important event and you're going out too early.
"It's tough, but at the same time, I know I did everything that I can to be ready for it. Was not my day. Let's keep going. That's the only thing.
"There is no more thing to do than keep practising hard, keep practising the same way that I was doing the last four, five months."
"That's it. I hope the next time I can compete better than what I did today, because I was playing good," he said.
It was one of the worst ever Grand Slam performances for Nadal, who also lost in the 2013 Wimbledon first round and has not won a major title since the 2014 French Open.
Nadal has now failed to go further that the quarter-finals in his last six Grand Slams, as well as missing the 2014 US Open through injury.
Nadal said he was facing new challenges, with world number one Novak Djokovic now dominating the Grand Slams and his rivals also beefing up their games.
"The game is changing a little bit. Everybody now tries to hit all the balls," he said.
"There are no balls that you can prepare for the point. Everybody hits the ball hard and try to go for the winners in any position.
"The game has become a little bit more crazy in this aspect. But the real thing is my mission is make them play with difficult positions.
"So if they want to go for lot of winners with very difficult positions, the chance of having success is not very high. So that's the mistake for me today."

 

Stars fall like pack of cards at Australian Open

AFP, MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal and Simona Halep were sent crashing out of the Australian Open first round on Tuesday as a dramatic day of upsets shifted the landscape of the years first Grand Slam. Nadal suffered one of the worst Grand Slam results of his career as he was stunned by fellow Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco in a five-set thriller which recalled their epic 2009 semi-final. Halep, the womens world number two, soon followed him out in an almighty upset by Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai who wept freely as she won her first Grand Slam match in 15 attempts. While Haleps defeat to Zhang, the world number 133, came out of the blue, it was Nadals loss which created concern as the 14-time Grand Slam-winner increasingly looks a fading force. Nadal, 29, has only ever lost once before in a Grand Slam first round, at Wimbledon 2013, but he has not gone further than the quarter-finals at the majors since he won the 2014 French Open. Its tough, but at the same time, I know I did everything that I can to be ready for it, said Nadal, after 45th-ranked Verdascos 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 win in four hours, 41 minutes. Was not my day. Lets keep going. Thats the only thing. There is no more thing to do than keep practising hard, keep practising the same way that I was doing the last four, five months. The big upsets at least drew attention away from a match-fixing controversy which hit the start of the tournament after a report said top players had been under suspicion but never punished. Andy Murray, a four-time finalist who is seeking his first win in Melbourne, dispatched Germanys Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in hot conditions to move into the second round. Afterwards the world number two, who is awaiting the imminent birth of his first child and has pledged to race home if his wife goes into labour, immediately checked his phone for news. Im hoping my phone hasnt been buzzing in my bag. Kim will message my team if anything goes on and well see what happens, he said. Rising star Garbine Muguruza beat Estonian debutante Anett Kontaveit 6-0, 6-4 in one hour exactly and immediately set her sights on dethroning Serena Williams in the final. To win the Grand Slam here you are going to have to beat Serena (Williams). It will be great if I can play against her, said the confident Spanish world number three. Temperatures of 33 Celsius (91.4 Fahrenheit) took their toll and Diego Schwartzman was stretchered off after retiring in the fourth set against John Millman with cramps. While Murray and Muguruza motored through, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams suffered an early exit when she lost to British number one Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-2. Williams, 35, was the oldest player in the womens draw but Konta said it would be silly to focus on the Americans age. I think it would be silly to look at Venus age and somehow consider that as a reflection of her level, said the 24-year-old. I think its irrelevant how old she is because shes such a champion with so much experience and so much knowledge about the game. Milos Raonic, who is now working with Carlos Moya and beat Roger Federer in this months Brisbane final, breezed past Lucas Pouille and into the second round. But it was a different story for Gilles Muller, who came through four tie-breaks to beat Fabio Fognini, but not before the Italian showed flashes of his famous temper. Jeremy Chardy had an even bigger struggle, winning the fifth-set 13-11 to finally overcome Ernests Gulbis after four hours and 43 minutes. Among the evening matches, Australias former world number one Lleyton Hewitt was playing compatriot James Duckworth in what is his last tournament before retiring. Meanwhile, Nadal did his best to shrug off his latest Grand Slam setback on Tuesday and pledged to fight on despite the crazy, go-for-broke tennis now played by some of his rivals. The match is a tough loss for me, especially because its not like last year when I arrived here playing bad and feeling myself not ready for it, Nadal said. This year was a completely different story. I have been playing and practising great and working so much. You know its tough when you work so much and arrive at a very important event and youre going out too early. Its tough, but at the same time, I know I did everything that I can to be ready for it. Was not my day. Lets keep going. Thats the only thing. There is no more thing to do than keep practising hard, keep practising the same way that I was doing the last four, five months. Thats it. I hope the next time I can compete better than what I did today, because I was playing good, he said. It was one of the worst ever Grand Slam performances for Nadal, who also lost in the 2013 Wimbledon first round and has not won a major title since the 2014 French Open. Nadal has now failed to go further that the quarter-finals in his last six Grand Slams, as well as missing the 2014 US Open through injury. Nadal said he was facing new challenges, with world number one Novak Djokovic now dominating the Grand Slams and his rivals also beefing up their games. The game is changing a little bit. Everybody now tries to hit all the balls, he said. There are no balls that you can prepare for the point. Everybody hits the ball hard and try to go for the winners in any position. The game has become a little bit more crazy in this aspect. But the real thing is my mission is make them play with difficult positions. So if they want to go for lot of winners with very difficult positions, the chance of having success is not very high. So thats the mistake for me today.