Australian Open: Ons Jabeur makes strong start as teenager Joao Fonseca stuns Andrey Rublev

Daniil Medvedev survives huge scare before winning in five sets on Tuesday

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrates beating Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina in the first round of the Australian Open. AFP

Tunisian star Ons Jabeur made an encouraging start at the Australian Open as she defeated Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine in a little over an hour.

The former world No 2 secured a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 win in the first-round clash to set up a match against Camila Osorio in the next round.

Jabeur was in control for much of the match, sending down five aces and converting six of her eight break points.

It was a positive sign for the Tunisian who is slowly working her way back from injuries that ruined much of the season last year.

Jabeur, 30, had to contend with serious knee and shoulder injuries in 2024, which forced her to end the season prematurely, missing the US Open and the Asian swing and dropping to No 42 in the world rankings.

Ahead of the Australian Open, Jabeur said that her main aim for the season was to play as long as possible, and hopefully without any pain.

“I’m playing without pain. I am feeling much better and just taking it one step at a time. Some things take time but I am very positive about the future,” Jabeur had told The National.

“I'm very happy with the preparation that I did, and looking forward to have more matches to play."

While Jabeur had a routine outing in Melbourne, there were fireworks elsewhere.

Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca began his Grand Slam career in spectacular fashion as the qualifier defeated Russian ninth seed Andrey Rublev 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 in the first round.

In his first main draw match at a major, Fonseca, 18, lived up to the hype with a stunning straight sets win in front of a late-night crowd on Margaret Court Arena.

He clinched the opening set with another thundering forehand winner and raised his level even further to cruise through the second set.

Rublev dug deep in the third set and was a break ahead but Fonseca showed incredible maturity to set up another tiebreaker.

The teenager ended the contest at the first opportunity by pounding a forehand beyond his Russian opponent, his 51st winner of the match.

Roared on by Brazilian fans decked out in yellow, Fonseca set up a second-round meeting with Italy's Lorenzo Sonego.

“It's the first time playing in a huge stadium,” Fonseca said.

“There are a lot of Brazilians here cheering for me and I enjoyed every moment, thanks a lot.”

“I mean, not bad, I just enjoyed every moment playing in an amazing court,” Fonseca, who last year won the Next Gen ATP title, added.

Rublev's fellow Russian and 2024 finalist Daniil Medvedev was heavy favourite against Thailand's 418th-ranked Kasidit Samrej.

However, in his first match of the season, fifth seed Medvedev nearly imploded in a fit of anger before finding some measure of calm to eke out a hard-fought win.

“Second and third set I couldn't touch the ball. I didn't know what to do,” Medvedev said after finally winning 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 at the Rod Laver Arena.

The 28-year-old mangled his racquet as he spectacularly lost his cool in the third set, slamming it into the net camera repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz, veteran Gael Monfils and home hope Alex de Minaur also all progressed into round two at Melbourne Park.

Fourth seed Fritz eased past fellow American Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 to launch his bid for a maiden Grand Slam crown.

“It's never easy playing that first match in a Slam, there are some nerves, so I did a really good job shaking them off early and playing really solid,” said Fritz, who took just one hour and 46 minutes for the win.

France's Monfils battled through a five-set thriller to beat young compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and continue the 38-year-old's late-career resurgence.

Monfils became the oldest singles champion in ATP Tour history when he swept to victory at the Auckland Classic on Saturday.

In the women's draw, Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina were both emphatic winners on day three, with Emma Navarro and Emma Raducanu also victorious.