At the last Major, then-18-year-old Emma Raducanu completed one of the most surprising title runs in sports history. Ranked 150th in the world, she won 10 consecutive matches over the course of qualifying and the main draw without dropping a set, and without even contesting a tiebreak. In only her fourth tour-level event, Emma claimed her first Major title. She has understandably lost a few matches after such a surprising, life-changing feat. And in the opening round of the next Major, she has drawn fellow US Open champion Sloane Stephens.
The other shocking finalist from this past September in New York, Leylah Fernandez, will also return to Grand Slam competition on Tuesday. WTA action also features several multi-time Major singles champions, as well as Anett Kontaveit, who was the hottest player on tour at the end of last season.
Great Britain’s biggest male tennis star, Andy Murray, is a five-time runner-up of this tournament. Three years ago, he played what was thought to be his last match in Australia, which included an emotional sendoff after a five-set loss to Roberto Bautista Agut. But after multiple hip surgeries, Murray has returned to Australia, where just last week in Sydney, he reached his first ATP final since 2019. At that event, he overcame Nikoloz Basilashvili in a grueling three-hour three-setter. On Tuesday, they will meet again.
Other ATP action includes US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, Roland Garros finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur.
Each day this preview will highlight the five most intriguing matchups, while outlining the other notable matches on the schedule. Tuesday’s play will begin at 11:00am local time.
Nikoloz Basilashvili (21) vs. Andy Murray (WC) – Not Before 3:00pm on John Cain Arena
Since missing last February’s Australian Open due to a positive COVID test, Murray is a modest 19-16 at tour level, yet has shown consistent progress throughout that run. At the end of last season, he earned two top 10 victories (Hurkacz, Sinner). Basilashvili gained 35 victories in 2021, winning two titles and also reaching the final of Indian Wells. But at the Majors, he went only 3-4. In addition to Andy’s victory last week in Sydney, he also defeated Nikoloz in the first round of Wimbledon last June. Both their matches have been tight, but with both going to Murray, the Brit is the favorite on this day as well. He possesses much more variety than Basilashvili, and is eager to prove he can still be a factor at Slams.
Angelique Kerber (16) vs. Kaia Kanepi – Fourth on Kia Arena
Due to suffering from COVID-19 in December, Kerber has not played a match since Indian Wells in October. And as Simona Halep’s former coach Darren Cahill has often stated, Kanepi is one of the last people any player wants to see as their opening round draw. He speaks from experience: Kaia upset Simona in the first round of the 2018 US Open. As per Tennis Abstract, that’s one of eight top 10 victories Kanepi has at Majors, which also includes a win last year here over the defending champion, Sofia Kenin. The 36-year-old Estonian is a six-time Slam quarterfinalist, and claimed two ITF events in the second half of last year. These players have split four previous meetings, though they haven’t played in over eight years. Considering Kerber’s interrupted preparation for this tournament, Kanepi has a great opportunity to score another first round upset at a Major.
Alex de Minaur (32) vs. Lorenzo Musetti – 7:00pm on Margaret Court Arena
De Minaur loves this first month of the season in his home country. He went 2-1 at the ATP Cup, earning impressive wins over Matteo Berrettini and Ugo Humbert. He’s yet to advance to the second week of his home Slam, but that could change this week in an open section of the draw, where Casper Ruud is the highest-ranked player. Musetti is one of many standout young Italians. The 20-year-old started last season by reaching two Challenger finals, then coming through qualifying to be the runner-up in Acapulco. But his results tapered off from there, losing more matches than he won for the rest of 2021. However, his flashy style should make for a fun contrast to the speed of the Australian. And Alex will certainly feel the pressure of competing in Australia, especially during the night session. This could turn into one of the most compelling matches of Day 2.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (4) vs. Mikael Ymer – Last on Rod Laver Arena
Tsitsipas is still working to get back to 100% after undergoing elbow surgery in the offseason, which casts doubt as to whether he is ready for best-of-five competition. Stefanos had a great 2021, accumulating 55 wins. At this event a year ago, he earned one of the signature wins of his career: a comeback from two-sets-down over Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals. Ymer is a 23-year-old from Sweden who last year in Melbourne achieved his first appearance in the third round of a Major. But that’s where he ran into Tsitsipas, who comfortably defeated him 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. I would expect their meeting this year to be much closer, yet despite his recent elbow issues, the Greek remains the favorite to advance.
Emma Raducanu (17) vs. Sloane Stephens – Last on Margaret Court Arena
Since the US Open, Raducanu is only 2-4, and is another player who battled COVID-19 in the offseason. In her only match thus far this year, she lost to Elena Rybakina 6-0, 6-1. Considering how talented the 19-year-old is, and with the accomplished Torben Beltz now her coach, good results are assumedly ahead of her. But they may not be immediate, as Emma tries to adjust to her new normal as a huge star, and as a Major champion. Sloane Stephens is someone who can relate to that situation, as her 2017 US Open title run also came as a surprise, coming shortly after missing almost a year of action. The American went just 19-18 last year, and is yet to play in 2022 after recently getting married. But in this battle of US Open champs, Sloane should be favored. Raducanu is going to feel much different at this Major than her last, with all the attention and expectations she is now experiencing.
Other Notable Matches on Tuesday:
Garbine Muguruza (3) vs. Clara Burel – Muguruza is coming off the third-biggest title of her career, winning the WTA Finals in Guadalajara. She was a finalist here two years ago. Burel is a 20-year-old from France who reached four ITF finals and one WTA final last season.
Anett Kontaveit (6) vs. Katerina Siniakova – Kontaveit ended 2021 by going 29-4, and winning an astounding four titles in just over two months. Siniakova is the No.1 doubles player in the world, who earned significant singles victories last year over Serena Williams as well as Muguruza. Anett leads their head-to-head 4-1, which includes two wins within the last six months.
Leylah Fernandez (23) vs. Maddison Inglis (WC) – Like Raducanu, Fernandez has struggled to immediately follow-up on her US Open run, going just 3-2 since. Inglis is a 24-year-old Australian who at a lower-level event three years ago lost to Leylah in a third set tiebreak.
Daniil Medvedev (2) vs. Henri Laaksonen – With Djokovic out of the tournament, Medvedev is now the favorite, but how will he perform with that knowledge? Laaksonen is a 29-year-old from Switzerland who advanced to the third round of two Slams last season. During a 2019 Davis Cup tie, Medvedev defeated him in three sets.
Aryna Sabalenka (2) vs. Storm Sanders (WC) – Sabalenka has endured an awful start to 2022. She is 0-2, and is dealing with some major technical issues on her serve, striking 39 double faults across those two losses. Storm Sanders is a 24-year-old Australian who won a double stitle two weeks ago with Ash Barty. She is seeking her first-ever singles win at a Major.
Tuesday’s full Order of Play is here.
