Days after pushing top-ranked Novak Djokovic and world No 4 Daniil Medvedev all the way in tough three-setters, Alexander Zverev stumbled out of the blocks in his Australian Open first-round clash with Marcos Giron.
Sixth-seed Zverev lost the first set in a tiebreaker, after saving four set points, then smashed up his racket in frustration during the second against the world No 73.
That appeared to wake up the German who regained his composure to beat the 27-year-old American 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2.
“He played incredible. He knew on a big stage, against a top-10 player, he has to come out firing,” Zverev, said. “He had me in trouble.
“Two days ago I was spending three hours on court against Medvedev and Novak [at the ATP Cup] – my body was a bit fatigued. But this is a Slam, you don’t get easy matches.”
French 10th seed Gael Monfils broke down in tears after he was beaten by 86th-ranked Emil Ruusuvuori 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
It was the first time Monfils, 34, has lost in the first round at Melbourne, against a Finn playing in only his fourth match at a Grand Slam.
"I lost, I have zero confidence, I played badly," said Monfils, after his seventh consecutive tour-level loss. "I know that I have lost a lot and it hurts me. I would like to wake up and tell myself that this nightmare is over, but I don't know when it will stop."
Defending champion Djokovic, meanwhile, had no such problems up against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy at Melbourne Park. The Serb powered to a 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 victory.
.@NickKyrgios serving up an #AusOpen summer special 🌭#AO2021 pic.twitter.com/O7aX4qXZjd
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 8, 2021
Home favourite Nick Kyrgios also sailed through to the next round, beating Portugal's Frederico Ferreira Silva 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
After a slow start and opening set tie-break, US Open champion Dominic Thiem of Austria defeated Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin 7-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Swiss 17th seed Stan Wawrinka, who won the title in 2014, made light work of Portugal's Pedro Sousa, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
In the women's draw, Serena Williams, 39, got off to a flyer despite losing the opening game. The American went on to win 10 games in a row and thrashed Germany's Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-1 in 56 minutes.
"This was a good start, it was vintage Serena," said 10th seed Williams as she chases Margaret Court's record Grand Slam tally of 24. "Wasn't sure how my serve would be after the shoulder [injury], but it's feeling good."
Second-seed Simona Halep of Romania breezed into the second round with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Australian wild-card entry Lizette Cabrera.
Serena wins it in style 👑
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 8, 2021
The perfect start to her #AusOpen campaign with a victory over Siegemund 6-1 6-1 🇺🇸@serenawilliams | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/80MOANh6o5
Three-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, 23, overcame a potentially tricky opening contest by easing past world No 39 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-1, 6-2.
"I was really nervous. I couldn't really sleep last night," said the Japanese third seed. "I can't sleep before finals and before the first rounds. I never want to lose in the first round."
Ninth seed Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic also won in straight sets, beating Belgium's Greet Minnen 6-3, 6-4.
Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, seeded 27, was made to work for her passage to Round 2 with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Germany's Andrea Petkovic.
Venus Williams, meanwhile, won a Grand Slam match for the first time since 2019 after the 40-year-old defeated Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 6-2.
Williams is the oldest woman in this year’s draw and is only the sixth player in her 40s to compete at the tournament.
Abu Dhabi WTA Women's Tennis Open title winner Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus breezed past Viktoria Kuzmova 6-0, 6-4.
