‘Next Nadal’ makes blazing start to Open

Spanish tennis prodigy Carlos Alcaraz has made a lightning start to the Australian Open, storming into the second round in less than two hours.

The 31st seed was completely untroubled in beating Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabillo 6-2 6-2 6-3 yesterday.

At 18, Alcaraz is the youngest player in the men’s draw and somewhat unfairly carries the burden of being hailed as the next Rafael Nadal.

But the teenager did little to temper expectations, backing up his charge to last year’s US Open quarter-finals with an ominous opening to the Melbourne Park grand slam. Alcaraz meets Serb Dusan Lajovic tomorrow for a place in the last 32.

The actual Nadal has wasted no time underlining his title credentials with a commanding first-round win. Pounding winners from all angles of the court, Nadal looked lethal in a 6-1 6-4 6-2 demolition of American Marcos Giron.

The dramatic deportation of world No.1 and nine-times champion Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer’s injury-enforced absence has left Nadal as the only player with the chance to snare a record 21st men’s grand slam singles crown this month

And the great Spaniard needed only one hour and 48 minutes to confirm he’s over the injuries that dogged his 2021 season, not to mention his bout of Covid-19 only last month.

As well as clubbing 34 clean winners, Nadal broke Giron five times and offered up only one break point on his own serve all match.

Another young gun Denis Shapovalov of Canada also safely progressed but in vastly different fashion, the 14th seed needing four tough sets and two tiebreakers to see off Serbian Laso Djere.

Shapovalov prevailed 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-3) after three hours and 23 minutes to set up a second-round clash with Korean Soonwoo Kwon, a 3-6 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-2 comeback winner over Holger Rune of Denmark.

Other early winners on day one included French showman Gael Monfils, who allayed fears over a neck injury with a 6-1 6-1 6-3 rout of Argentine Federico Coria.

Seeded 17th this year, Monfils made a triumphant start to 2022 with title success at the Adelaide International before retiring mid-match in his opener last week in Sydney.

Matteo Berrettini (ranked No7) from Italy battled past Brandon Nakashima, United States, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-3 while Sebastian Korda, (US) eliminated 12th seed Cameron Norrie of Britain, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 who learned the game in New Zealand.

● Meanwhile, defending champion Naomi Osaka eased into the second round with a straight sets win over spirited Colombian Camila Osorio. The Japanese superstar delivered a mixed bag en route to a 6-3 6-3 win over the world No 50.

With her ranking slipping to No 14 after a tumultuous 2021, Osaka showed no signs of the abdominal injury that saw her withdraw from the semi-finals of a lead-up tournament 10 days ago.

Meanwhile China’s unseeded Wang Qiang, China, caused a significant upset ousting 18th-ranked American Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2.