The Japan Times - Osaka steals show at Australian Open as Sinner strolls through

Popular Frenchman Gael Monfils meanwhile bid farewell to Melbourne Park with an epic defeat and thanks for "an amazing ride".

The Italian Sinner strolled into round two when French opponent Hugo Gaston retired on Rod Laver Arena with the second seed in full control at 6-2, 6-1.

Gaston slumped to his chair and shook his head as his Australian Open ended in distress.

Two-time reigning champion Sinner said it was not how he wanted to win, but was pleased with his night's work.

"I knew from the beginning that I had to play a very high level and was trying to be as aggressive as possible, which I've done," he said.

Should he win three titles in a row in Melbourne, Sinner would join Novak Djokovic as the only men in the Open era to do so.

Great entertainer Monfils was bundled out in the first round in a brave goodbye to a tournament he has lit up so many times down the years.

The 39-year-old, one of the most colourful and popular players in men's tennis, battled all the way but Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny prevailed 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 in an epic lasting nearly four hours.

There was an on-court presentation and standing ovation afterwards for Monfils, who said: "Somehow it is the finish line, but thank you so much for an amazing ride."

Monfils, who has won 13 ATP titles in a career stretching back to 2004, said in October that this year would be his last in tennis.

Italian fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti moved on when his Belgian opponent Raphael Collignon retired in the fourth set.

Ben Shelton, the eighth seed and a semi-finalist last year, saw off France's Ugo Humbert, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5).

But Brazilian 19-year-old Joao Fonseca, touted on the eve of the tournament by Roger Federer as a star of the future, was dumped out by Eliot Spizzirri at the first hurdle.

The American defied the crowd of chanting Brazilian fans to win 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.

- Fashion statement -

Ahead of the final match on day three on Rod Laver Arena, former world number one Osaka emerged holding a white umbrella and wearing a matching wide-brimmed hat and veil.

The 28-year-old from Japan is well known for her on-court fashion statements.

She wore her latest outfit as she came out for her night match at centre court against Croatia's Antonia Ruzic.

She waved regally to the crowd and the four-time Grand Slam champion then folded up the umbrella and neatly put the hat and veil to the side.

In the first match of the day, Madison Keys admitted being "very nervous" as she launched her title defence with a shaky win.

Keys lost the first four games before rallying to beat Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova 7-6 (8/6), 6-1.

"I've been thinking about this moment for basically a year," the American said of walking out on centre court again.

"Obviously I was very nervous at the start."

Keys stunned Aryna Sabalenka 12 months ago in a three-set epic to win her first major crown at the age of 29, but she failed to push on, winning no more titles in 2025.

She started her season with quarter-final exits at Brisbane and Adelaide, admitting before the Grand Slam to feeling the weight of expectation as defending champion.

And so it proved as she threatened to implode against the Ukrainian ranked 92, before finding her feet to pull away with ease in the second set.

Also in the women's draw, Janice Tjen clocked another milestone in her rapid rise as she became the first Indonesian to win a match at the Australian Open in 28 years.

Unseeded Tjen stunned Canadian 22nd seed Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 7-6 (7/1).

Tjen, who this time last year was ranked 413 but is now the world number 59, is the first Indonesian to win a match at the major since Yayuk Basuki in 1998.

Also through was Elena Rybakina, the fifth seed from Kazakhstan who eased past Kaja Juvan of Slovenia 6-4, 6-3.

Y.Hara--JT