| Photo: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports |
Tuesday (18) recorded the first big upset at the Australian Tennis Open in Melbourne with the fall of 1-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain.
Nadal, who was injured during the match and played as a sacrifice, was beaten by American Mackenzie McDonald with the score of 3×0, partials of 6/4 6/4 and 7/5. McDonald is Marcelo Melo’s doubles partner.
With the defeat, Nadal will not be able to defend the title and will leave the top 5 in the standings.
In other results, Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Australian Rinki Hijikata 3-0 (6/3 6/0 and 6/2), and Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime beat Slovakian Alex Molcan 3-2 (3/6 3 /6 6/3 6/2 and 6/2).
Former number 1, the Russian Daniil Medvedev beat the Australian John Millman by 3-0 (7/5 6/2 6/2) and the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (POL) suffered to overcome the Italian Lorenzo Sonego by 3×2 ( 3/6 7 /6 2/6 6/3 and 6/3).
On the women’s side, the day held no surprises. World number 1 Poland’s Iga Swiatek beat Colombian Camila Osorio 2-0 (6/2 and 6/3), American Jessica Pegula scored 2-0 against Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich (6/2 and 7/6) and Maria Sakkari beat Russian Daiana Schnaider 2-1 (3/6 7/5 and 6/3)
American Coco Gauff (USA) beat Britain’s Emma Raducanu by 2-0 (6/3 and 7/6) and compatriot Madison Keys beat China’s Xinyu Wang by 2×0 (6/3 and 6/2).
Bia Haddad is eliminated
The country’s only singles tennis player, Bia Haddad Maia lost to 75th-seeded Nuria Parrizas-Diaz of Spain, 2-0 (7-6, 6-2).
The 14th-seeded Brazilian played with a left calf brace, which came from competing at the WTA 500 in Adelaide last week.
At dawn from Wednesday to Thursday (19), Luisa Stefani, Marcelo Melo, Marcelo Demoliner and Thiago Monteiro will make their debuts in the doubles tournament.
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