Australian Open Men’s Day 3

Daniil Medvedev exploded in anger at a low point in his opening match at the Australian Open on Tuesday destroying a net camera with his racquet but controlling his temper long enough for a win over a Thai challenger.

The finalist at three of the last four editions stayed the course for a 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Kasidit Samrej, ranked 418 and making his Grand Slam debut as a wild card.

It took five blows of his racquet on the net tech to earn the fifth seed a code violation for abuse, with extra time needed for workers to sweep up debris from the broken bit of electronic kit.

After his blow-up Medvedev seemed to find the serenity needed to close out victory in three hours.

The player who became the new father of a second child a week ago, had a bawdy take on the newcomer:

“(If) he plays like this every match, life can be good, money, girls, casino, whatever – I wish he can play like this every match.”:

Medvedev added: “Second and third set I couldn’t touch the ball. Full power, everything in — I didn’t know what to do,” he said after crushing the player known as “Boom” in Thai tennis circles..

Fourth seed Taylor Fritz crushed compatriot Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 in a no-nonsense win to move into the second round.. 

The American champion who helped his country to the United Cup title in Sydney this month, fired 34 winners as he defeated an opponent just back from an 18-month doping ban and a pair of wrist surgeries.

Last September’s US Open finalist Fritz earned minor revenge for a loss he took to Brooksby in New York four years ago.

“I’d say my confidence is pretty high, like an 8,” Fritz said. “I think sometimes when you’re playing really good at the end of the year, that off-season almost

kills a little bit of the momentum.

“I’ve been playing pretty well since the start of the year…United Cup I played pretty good. There’s no reason for me not to be very confident.”

Holger Rune earned his first win of the season after losing in the Brisbane first round, with the 13th-seeded Dane coming through in five sets to defeat China’s Zheng Zhizhen 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

The win was his first in five sets in Melbourne after losing in the 2022 first round and in the round of 16 a year later.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard salvaged a pair of match points in the third-set tiebreaker, but veteran French showman Gael Monfils would not be denied, claiming a 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4 win just three days after winning the Auckland title.

“My age, it is just a number. But I can tell you that tomorrow morning I will be more 48 than 38,’ Monfils said..

“I was happy the way I responded physically, how I put my focus where I wanted it. At the end of the day, a win is a win. You’re satisfied with that. 

“I’ve been working quite hard. When you can win one, two, three matches, it’s just like something you’re happy with and you want to keep going in this direction.”

Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist who has not passed a Grand Slam fourth round since that highlight showing, staged a comeback to overhaul Britain’s Cam Norrie 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3. 

The Italian winner who has been dogged in recent seasons by injury, hit 32 aces, which accounted for just over half of his 63 winners.

He now tangles with Rune in the second round.

“I’m happy for my performance, it’s never easy to play the first round,” the semi-finalist here in 2022 said.

“I think I played a really good match. My backhand is better than three years ago; my return is better than three years ago. 

“There is still room for improvement, luckily, and it’s just a matter of time and
matches and opportunities to play against the best in the world.”

Karen Khachanov, a semi-finalist  here two years ago, handed a 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-3 opening defeat to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.