Top seeded Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek begin their campaigns on day one of the Australian Open 2023 as the only two former women’s champions go head-to-head.
Here’s our pick of the best encounters from Monday’s first round.
Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper
Head to head 0:0
Former Spanish world No. 1 Carlos Moya bears no grudge when he sees any records he once held fall at the hands of his protégé Rafael Nadal.
However, there is one the Australian Open finalist from 26 years ago would like to hold on to and it would be to be Nadal’s advantage as he opens his title defense against Jack Draper at Rod Laver Arena on Monday.
The defending champions have not fallen on the opening lap at Melbourne Park since 1997.
RAFAEL NADAL: Ready to rebuild
MEN’S DRAW: Nadal and Draper get AO going with a bang
That came as a 25th Moya stunned Boris Becker in five sets before reaching his first major final at the end of the fortnight.
Nadal, desperate to put an injury-ravaged 2022 behind him, is looking to avoid Becker’s fate as he takes on the left-handed Brit for the first time.
Almost a year since his remarkable straight set comeback Daniel Medvedev For his second Australian Open title, Nadal arrived in Melbourne with two United Cup defeats for Spain, while Draper reached his second ATP 500 semi-final in Adelaide, breaking through the top 40.
“Probably one of the toughest first rounds possible when seeded,” said Nadal. “[Draper is] young, strong, growing very, very fast in the rankings, plays well.
“Probably, yes, a big challenge for me in the beginning to start the tournament. We will see. I’m here to give myself a chance.
“I know he’s playing well. He has a lot of positive things and probably a great career ahead of him.”
Iga Swiatek against Jule Niemeier
Head to head 1:0
Few could have imagined how quickly Poland’s Iga Swiatek would step up and fill the void left when Ash Barty retired last March.
The dominant world No. 1 rallied two of the three subsequent Majors in 2022 – at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows – with the only disappointment leaving them in the third round Alize Cornet at Wimbledon.
READ: Iga Swiatek sticks to AO campaign
FEMALE NEW WAVE: Jule Niemeier
Incidentally, the powerful German Jule Niemeier reported there for the first time with a run to the first Grand Slam quarterfinals and won second place Anett Kontaveit on road.
The 69th-ranked 23-year-old also reached the fourth round at the US Open, where she led top seed Swiatek with a set and a break before the top seed went all the way to the title.
“You saw how intense this match was, how tough,” said Swiatek. “It will not be easy. But on the other hand, every match at a Grand Slam is always more intense and stressful than at other tournaments. I will be prepared.
“It’s also nice that we played not long ago, so I can take a lot from this game. Now I know how her ball feels on the racquet so we’ll see.”
Niemeier failed to win any of their three leading games, while Swiatek went unbeaten in three United Cup games for Poland in Brisbane before losing Jessica Pegula in Poland’s semi-final defeat by the USA in Sydney.