The favorites did not disappoint at the start of the Australian Open. In the men's category, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev won comfortably, as did the leader of the women's ranking, Aryna Sabalenka. In the game that closed the first day of the tournament, Alcaraz, world number one, prevailed over local tennis player Adam Walton (79th) without any major difficulties, winning the match with scores of 6-3, 7-6 and 6-2. Still gaining ground, the Spaniard made almost as many winners (38) how many unforced errors (36), but the situation was always under control. Alexander Zverev (3rd) defeated, with a comeback, the dangerous Canadian Gabriel Diallo (41st) by 6-7 (1-7), 6-1, 6-4 and 6-2, in a match in which he signed 15 aces and 36 winners. Alexander Bublik (10th), coming off winning the Hong Kong Open, confirmed his current good form with a triple 6-4 victory against the North American Jenson Brooksby (48th), on a day in which the Portuguese Jaime Faria defeated the Belgian Alexander Blockx 3-1 in sets. In the women's category, Aryna Sabalenka (1st) began her title defense in Melbourne with a natural triumph against Frenchwoman Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah (118th), who only managed to level the playing field in the initial half. The Belarusian would end up winning 6-4, 6-1. Here's to the quiet triumphs of Jasmine Paolini (7th), ahead of Aliaksandra Sasnovich (102nd), Elina Svitolina (12th), ahead of Cristina Bucsa (51st), and Emma Raducanu (29th), in duel with Mananchaya Sawangkaew (195th). The day was also marked by the defeat of veteran Venus Williams, 45 years old, who wasted a 4-0 lead in the third set against Serbian Olga Danilovic (68th), ending up defeated 6-7, 6-3 and 6-4. The point of the day was scored by Maria Sakkari (52nd), with a phenomenal response to a serve from Leolia Jeanjean (101st), in a match that the Greek won 6-4 and 6-2. On the second day of the Australian Open, Nuno Borges (46th) comes into action, who faces a tough duel with Felix Auger-Aliassime (8th) in the opening round of the first Grand Slam event of the season. The game is scheduled for the early hours of Monday, Portuguese time.
