Arab News takes a look at how all the other big names did on day one in Melbourne — who lived to fight another day and who has already been forced to pack their bags?
GREGOR DIMITROV (3) STAYING: Many are predicting this could be the tournament which sees the Bulgarian make his Grand Slam breakthrough. He started the event well enough with a simple 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Australian qualifier Dennis Novak. Not a bad way to get your title tilt started.
NICK KYRGIOS (17) STAYING: The Aussie ace has been in good form recently and kept the outbursts, for which he in famous, to a minimum. Has all the ability in the world and that was evident during his easy 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 rout of Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva.
MARIN CILIC (6) STAYING: The big-serving Croatian had a bit of work to do as needed four sets to see off Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospil 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6. He has one Grand Slam to his name (the US Open in 2014) but will need to improve if he is to have a chance of adding a second here.
ELINA SVITOLINA (4) STAYING: One of the favorites to win in Melbourne and while any likelihood of he lifting the trophy is hard to gauge from her 6-3, 6-2 win over qualifier Ivan Jorovic, the Ukrainian certainly looked to be in fine form.
JELENA OSTAPENKO (7) STAYING: The French Open winner was a big name not to fall at the first hurdle, she easily beat Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-4 on the Rod Laver Arena. The Latvian is definitely one to watch.
KEVIN ANDERSON (11) PACKING HIS BAGS: The big-hitting South African’s last Grand Slam match was the US Open final, however, that counted for little as the 11th seed was given his marching orders by world No. 49 Kyle Edmund, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6 6-3, 6-4.
SLOANE STEPHENS (13) PACKING HER BAGS: The US Open champion had a match to forget as she was sensationally dumped out of the tournament by China’s world No. 34 Zhang Shuai. The American lost 2-6 7-6, 6-2 in one hour and 58 minutes in Melbourne.
COCO VANDEWEGHE (10) PACKING HER BAGS: Last year saw the American go from strength to strength and talked about as a future Grand Slam champion. She will not, however, land that first major in Melbourne as she was shocked Timea Babos 7-6, 6-2. The math will be remember for Vandeweghe’s outburst over a shortage of bananas — all in all it was a bad day for the American.
DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA (24) PACKING HER BAGS: The 2014 Australian Open finalist lost to Kaia Kanep. The Slovak endured a poor 2017 and here year got off to the worst possible start with this first-round exit in Melbourne, losing 6-2, 6-2.
