SA's Lloyd Harris starts on the front foot while Nadal survives


By Neo Poho

Day 1 of the Australian Open provided some fireworks as SA's Lloyd Harris had to dig deep to defeat Italian 17th seed Lorenzo Musetti.

Harris won 6-4, 6-1, 6-7 (0/7), 2-6, 7-6 (10/4) in a thrilling encounter that lasted three hours and 48 minutes, Harris who initially led by two sets and 4-1 in the third set took the foot off the pedal allowing the Italian to come back in the match.

Musetti then won the fourth set 6-2 however it was just a kick of a dying horse as Harris held his nerve to win the tie-breaker 10-4.

Harris will next play Hungary's world No 78 Marton Fucsovics, who took out Argentina's Federico Coria 4-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2.

Meanwhile defending champion Rafael Nadal defeated Briton Jack Draper 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in blistering heat on Rod Laver Arena on Monday.

Nadal as expected had to use his experience in the game to overcome the 21 year who was eyeing an upset, although he managed to get over the line Nadal was full of praise for a man 15 years his junior.

"He's young, he has the power and I think he has a great future ahead of him" Nadal said.

Up next for the Spaniard is Mackenzie McDonald, who beat fellow American Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-7 (10/12), 6-4.

Notable results from day one of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park on Monday:

Karen Khachanov (RUS x18) bt Bernabe Zapata Miralles (ESP) 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-0

Frances Tiafoe (USA x16) bt Daniel Altmaier (GER) 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (8/6)

Hubert Hurkacz (POL x10) bt Pedro Martinez (ESP) 7-6 (7/1), 6-2, 6-2

Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN x6) bt Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3), 6-3

Alex Molcan (SVK) bt Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4

Francisco Cerundolo (ARG x28) bt Guido Pella (ARG) 6-4, 6-4, 6-3

Corentin Moutet (FRA) bt Wu Yibing (CHN) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5

Daniil Medvedev (x7) bt Marcos Giron (USA) 6-0, 6-1, 6-2

Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x3) bt Quentin Halys (FRA) 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6)

Denis Shapovalov (CAN x20) bt Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1

Article Tags

Tennis

Australian Open

Lloyd Haris

Rafael Nadal

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