The first round of the 2016 Australian Open ended Tuesday, and one of the best players in the world went home early.
Rafael Nadal, a 14-time Grand Slam champion, was upset in five sets by Fernando Verdasco. It’s only the second time Nadal has been upset in Round 1 of a major tournament.
Even though he lost, Rafa #Nadal brought out all the tricks! Just like this @cpaaustralia shot of the day. #ausopenhttps://t.co/Rn12n4kMpP
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2016
There were no other significant upsets Tuesday. All four semifinalists from last year — Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych and Stan Wawrinka — won their first round matchups. Other notable stars such as Roger Federer and David Ferrer also are through to the next round.
Australian Lleyton Hewitt won his first-round matchup against James Duckworth in straight sets, much to the delight of the home crowd. This is Hewitt’s final appearance at this tournament.
Hewitt makes it through 1R in his final #AusOpen https://t.co/yUFZmqRvMk
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2016
Here are the scores from Tuesday’s matches. Round 2 begins Wednesday.
Men’s Bracket
F. Verdasco def. R. Nadal (5): 7-6, 4-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2
L. Hewitt def. J. Duckworth: 7-6, 6-2, 6-4
A. Murray (2) def. A. Zverev: 6-1, 6-2, 6-3
S. Wawrinka (4) def. D. Tursunov: 7-6, 6-3
S. Groth def. A. Mannarino: 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
B. Tomic (16) def. D Istomin: 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
M. Raonic (13) def. L. Pouille: 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
J. Isner (10) def. J. Janowicz: 6-3, 7-6, 6-3
V. Troicki (21) def. D. Munoz de la Nava: 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-3
R. Ram def. K. Anderson (11): 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 3-0
D. Ferrer (8) def. P. Gojowczyk: 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
S. Giraldo def. D. Young: 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
N. Mahut def. M. Cecchinato: 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
J. Millman def. D. Schwartzman: 3-6, 5-7, 7-6, 5-0
G. Monfils (23) def. Y. Sugita: 6-1, 6-3, 6-2
M. Granoliers def. M. Ebden: 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
T. Bellucci def. J. Thompson: 6-2, 6-3, 6-2
J. Sock def. T. Fritz: 6-4, 3-6, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
G. Muller def. F. Fognini: 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6
L. Rosol def. T. Daniel: 7-6, 7-5, 5-7, 6-7, 6-1
G. Pella def. S. Darcis: 2-6, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-1
S. Bolleli def. B. Baker: 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6
F. Lopez (18) def. D. Evans: 6-1, 6-0, 6-4
S. Johnson (31) def. A. Bedene: 6-3, 6-4, 7-6
T. Robredo def. M. Jaziri: 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 8-6
J. Sousa def. M. Kukushkin: 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
D. Sela def. B. Becker: 6-1, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
J. Chardy (30) def. E. Gulbis: 7-5, 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 13-11
S. Robert def. B. Fratangelo: 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
R. Stepanek def. T. Ito: 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2
A. Kuznetsov def. R. Harrison: 7-5, 6-4, 6-4
T. Smyczek def. D. Gimeno-Traver: 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Thumbnail photo via Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports Images
