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Wins for Nadal, Barty, Kenin a...

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Wins for Nadal, Barty, Kenin and Gauff at Australian Open


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Rafael Nadal sailed into the second round of the Australian Open, while there were also wins for Ashleigh Barty, Sofia Kenin and Coco Gauff.

Nadal, bidding for a record 21st Grand Slam singles crown in Melbourne this month, saw off Laslo Djere in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 at the Rod Laver Arena.

There were also wins in the men's singles for Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, but 13th seed David Goffin was beaten in five sets by Australian wildcard Alexei Popyrin.

Women's world number one Barty whitewashed Danka Kovinic 6-0, 6-0 in just 44 minutes in their first-round encounter.

Barty sat out nearly all of last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She'll be joined in the last 64 by defending champion Sofia Kenin, who saw off Maddison Inglis 7-5, 6-4.

16-year-old American Coco Gauff began her bid for glory with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Jil Teichmann.

Gauff will now face the fifth seed, Elina Svitolina.

The biggest casualty was past winner Victoria Azarenka, who was knocked out in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, by Jessica Pegula.

2012 and 2013 Australian Open winner Azarenka appeared to struggle with her breathing and required an inhaler.

Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem and Naomi Osaka are all in action on Wednesday.


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