Osaka gets Australian Open started after smoke fears ease

MELBOURNE, Australia –  Naomi Osaka made a winning start to her title defense at the Australian Open on Monday, January 20, as the tournament began on schedule after a build-up hit by haze from raging bushfires.

Hazardous smog left several players with coughs and breathing difficulties during qualifying last week, prompting speculation about whether the first major of the tennis season would be delayed.

But a full roster of matches began on time under cloudy skies at Melbourne Park, with air quality rated as “good” and rain forecast.

Japan’s Osaka was an early winner as she dismissed Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-4, in 80 minutes, breaking a net fitting with one powerful serve in the process.

“It was really tough for me trying to control my nerves,” said Osaka. “It’s tough to play someone you’ve never played before in the first round of a Grand Slam.”

Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic will open his bid for an eighth title on Monday, while Serena Williams launches her latest attempt to match Margaret Court’s record 24 Grand Slam crowns.

Williams’ elder sister, 39-year-old Venus, faces rising star Coco Gauff, 15, who is looking to reprise her upset of the seven-time Grand Slam winner at Wimbledon last year.

Swiss great Roger Federer, 38, plays America’s Steve Johnson as he looks to keep ahead of his Big Three rivals by winning his 21st Grand Slam title.

Player anger over smog dominated the final days before the tournament, which is taking place after deadly bushfires ravaged large parts of the country.

Slovenia’s Dalila Jakupovic was forced to retire from her qualifier after a coughing fit, while Britain’s Liam Broady claimed “multiple” players needed asthma medication.

‘I was coughing a lot’

“After I practised indoors I felt really bad with my lungs,” said Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, the world No. 6.

“I was coughing a lot had troubles breathing for a couple of hours,” he added.

Federer was one of the competitors who criticized a lack of communication from tournament officials, who were forced to suspend practice and delay qualifying.

“You have court calls, then you look at the haze and everything, it doesn’t look good. How far are we from that threshold of playing, not playing?” Federer said. 

Tournament officials are closely monitoring pollution and will halt play and close the three main stadiums’ roofs if particulate matter suspended in the air hits PM2.5 200.

Australian world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, fresh from winning the Adelaide International on Saturday, is one of the main attractions on Monday when she plays Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko in an evening match.

Others on court include 6th seed Tsitsipas and Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, who is playing her last tournament before retiring.

Federer is seeking a 21st Grand Slam crown and his first since Melbourne Park in 2018.

But the Swiss star, who is targeting a seventh Australian title, is playing down expectations in his first competitive match of the year.

“He’s match-ready and I’m not,” Federer said of Johnson. “I got to really make sure I get out of the gates quick.” – Rappler.com