Australian Open 2023

Game-by-game report: Rafa Nadal faces a potential banana skin in the first round against rising British star Jack Draper. Join Angus Fontaine for updates.

The US duo Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are also through to the second round. Weather update: According to our woman on the ground, Emma Kemp, it’s “hot af” in Melbourne today. Despite the furnace-like heat the combatants will have a quick warm up and then we’ll get to the action. The players are spotted in the bowels of Rod Laver Arena. There’s a 12 shot rally for the third point, the ball bouncing high but Rafa takes the point and then the game to love. Tumaini Carayol had this to say about the clash: Nadal’s training top and shoes match the colour of the blue court, but once he peels his top off, he’s in a bright orange playing shirt. The in-form Jack Draper is his opponent. The serve is his weapon and his first rips down the line, too fast for Nadal. Elevated to top seed following the withdrawal of injured world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz. He wins both opening rallies and then draws Draper into the net for the third point. Nadal* 2-1 Draper (* denotes server) Nadal has been highly critical of the balls being used in this tournament and they do appear to be bouncing big on the players, requiring each to take them on the rise and roll high shoulders at them.

Follow the action below as Nadal takes on Draper (third match on Rod Laver Arena, not before 2.30pm AEDT). Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Live ...

Whatever happens, it’ll be a special occasion for me, still very young in my career, so it’s great to have these sort of experiences and exposure to playing someone like Rafa on a big court like that.” I need to build again this confidence with myself with victories. “A big challenge for me at the beginning to start the tournament. “I need to build again all this momentum. Just accept the situation. Commentator John Fitzgerald said on Channel Nine, “goodness me, that’s a big mistake and he knows.

A knee injury will prevent Nick Kyrgios from competing at this year's Australian Open. Melbourne, Australia, 16 January 2023 | Leigh Rogers.

“I’m not doubting I will be back to my full strength and playing the tennis I was playing prior to this event. I guess I can draw some inspiration from someone like Thanasi (Kokkinakis) who has had a bunch of injuries and has bounced back,” Kyrgios said. “The situation now is, we want to prevent him from having further injury or making that injury worse. Injury is a part of the sport. “We used the match, the charity event against Novak, as a gauge to see if he could compete at that highest level. Hasn’t been easy at all,” Kyrgios said of the decision to withdraw.

Over the years the Australian Open has led the way when it comes to premium food and hospitality at a Grand Slam tournament or any sporting event.

“The Australian Open is a global event, and we want to show the best Melbourne and Australia has to offer, and I think we have done that.” At a special preview of the hospitality offerings at Melbourne Park, Josh said it was an honour to be involved in the tournament. The global reputation Melbourne has as one of the food capitals of the world will be only enhanced by the offerings at this year’s tournament.

Kyrgios' Aus Open exit left him 'devastated'. It's proof this should've been his year.

Obviously last year winning the title in doubles and playing the best tennis of my life probably. It’s just devastating.” “I feel like I’ve let so many people down. It’s a brutal blow for a player who is in the best form of his career and genuinely appears to have turned a corner on in his relationship with tennis. “It’s like my home tournament. Yeah, I‘m devastated obviously,” he said.

Nick Kyrgios says he knew he needed to pull out of the Australian Open after practising against his mate, doubles partner and fellow Aussie Thanasi ...

“The prognosis is good and he’ll be fine. “I was, like, you know, I’ve worked so hard, put myself in the position to be — you know, I was ranked outside 100 a year ago. Kyrgios said he was “extremely devastated” and that it was “brutal” to have to pull out of his home tournament. Last week, Kyrgios had a procedure to try and drain the cyst and had hoped that had been enough to allow him to compete in the Australian Open. Maher said while it was “impossible” to say exactly when the injury happened, it had only become “a real problem” in the last fortnight. “I got off the court yesterday and was dealing with it and we were going to make a call then,” Kyrgios explained of the timing.

A "devastated" Nick Kyrgios has been forced to withdraw from the Australian Open on the eve of his first ma...

"The situation now we want to prevent him from having further injury or making that injury worse. (this is) one of the most important tournaments of my career." Getting on the court simply wasn't enough for him. "Obviously I'm just exhausted from everything. [Nick Kyrgios](https://wwos.nine.com.au/tennis/nick-kyrgios) has been forced to withdraw from the [Australian Open](https://wwos.nine.com.au/tennis/australian-open) on the eve of his first match. [Alcott's hilarious first meeting with tennis 'king'](https://wwos.nine.com.au/tennis/australian-open-2023-dylan-alcott-career-first-meeting-with-roger-federer-story-wheelchair-tennis-exclusive/51450cff-6f50-4a87-936f-6e46270cda3d)

Russian and Belarusian flags have been banned at the Australian Open, effective immediately. While tournament initially allowed flags on the grounds at ...

Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. On Monday night Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko took to Twitter to “strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during the game of the Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl at the Australian Open today. Live Coverage of ATP + WTA Tour Tournaments including Every Finals Match. Yesterday we had an incident where a flag was placed courtside. [shown on the TV broadcast with a white flag in the place of the Russian one](https://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/australian-open/what-country-are-tennis-players-under-white-flag-at-australian-open-2023-from/news-story/03d1300ffdfa664d02e4e40f93308342) during his first-round match with Marcus Giron. It comes as Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia condemned a Russian flag being flown during a match between players from the warring nations at the Australian Open on Monday.

While Tennis Australia is allowing Russian and Belarusian players to compete in the tournament, they cannot do so under their flag or country's name because of ...

I don’t think it’s just humane.” Obviously we don’t want the war, too.” “Tennis Australia stands united with the international governing bodies of tennis – the grand slams, the ATP and WTA Tours and the ITF – in its condemnation of Russia’s actions and its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.” “This is our faith, I guess, and we have to just come back strong.” “I don’t really talk to anyone,” she added of Russian and Belarusian players. “I strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during the game of the Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl at the Australian Open today,” Myroshnychenko said.

UPDATE: Tennis Australia has banned Russian and Belarusian flags at the Australian Open after the Ukraine's ambassador "strongly condemn[ed]" the display in ...

Last year, Wimbledon organisers banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in the tournament in the face of "unjustified and unprecedented military aggression," according to a statement released in April. Yesterday we had an incident where a flag was placed courtside. "I strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during the game of the Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl at the Australian Open today," Vasyl Myroshnychenko wrote on Twitter on Monday, alongside a photo showing the flag on display. In light of the war in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian tennis players have been permitted to play at the Australian Open but must do so "without flags or country recognition." UPDATE: Tennis Australia has banned Russian and Belarusian flags at the Australian Open after the Ukraine's ambassador "strongly condemn[ed]" the display in the stands. "Flags from Russia and Belarus are banned onsite at the Australian Open," Tennis Australia said in a statement Tuesday morning.