Australian Open Day 2 results: How the Aussie players went

Australian Open Day 2 results: How the Aussie players went image

After a bumper first day in Melbourne, with 14 Aussies featuring in singles action, day two offered much for the eight locals on show.

Eight Australians sealed passage through to the second round on day one, but just two won through on day two.

Big names fell, and with it, more deep-seeded hope - but there were two major highlights in the men's draw as Alex Bolt and Alexei Popyrin created their own slices of history.

With the second round of matches set to make more waves at Melbourne Park, 10 local hopes - the most to reach the second round in 16 years - have given themselves a chance to fight another day.

MORE: Day 1 results: How the Aussie players went | Kyrgios denies rift with Hewitt after Tomic's attack

Ahead of the third day of action, Sporting News checks out how the local hopes performed on the second day of the 2019 Australian Open.

NICK KYRGIOS OUTSERVED BY POWERFUL RAONIC

Milos Raonic def. Nick Kyrgios 6-4 7-6 [5] 6-4

Kyrgios came into the first Slam of the year unseeded, and copped Milos Raonic in the first round.

The duo went blow for blow with their big serves, but the towering Canadian emerged a straight-sets winner, Kyrgios left rueing what could have been had he granted himself an easier run after months of toil.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS CRUELLED BY INJURY

Taro Daniel def. Thanasi Kokkinakis 5-7 4-2 ret.

Sometimes, it's just not fair. Shoulder. Groin. Elbow. Now pectoral.

Kokkinakis has had a shocking run with injury, and despite winning the first set over Japan's Daniel, it was too much for the Aussie to bear.


 

ALEX BOLT OUTLASTS SOCK IN FOUR

Alex Bolt def. Jack Sock 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2

After losing the first set to the big American, Bolt had to dig deep if he wanted to reach the second round for the first time.

Conceding just seven games across the next three sets, which he claimed to seal a four-set win, proved Bolt will have enough fight to take it to Gilles Simon in the second round.


 

ALEXEI POPYRIN BATTLES PAST GERMAN VETERAN

Alexei Popyrin def. Mischa Zverev 7-5 7-6 [7] 6-4

He may have been Zverev's junior by 12 years, but 19-year-old Popyrin played beyond his years to seal a brilliant win in straight sets.

All three sets were close - even the tiebreak was tight - and the 2017 junior French Open champion hit 60 winners as he needed nearly two hours to dispose of the 2017 quarter-finalist.


 

SAM STOSUR'S BUBBLE BURST BY YASTREMSKA

Dayana Yastremska def. Sam Stosur 7-5 6-2

The 2011 US Open final must feel a million years ago for Stosur, who suffered her fourth consecutive first round loss in Melbourne.

It was an 18-year-old Ukrainian that did the damage, Yastremska cruising past an opponent 16 years her senior. The age gap showed - Stosur first played qualifying in Melbourne before Yastremska was even born.


 

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC PIPPED BY CUNNING KONTA

Johanna Konta def. Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6 [4] 2-6 7-6 [7]

Tomljanovic pushed, and pushed, and pushed - but Aussie-born Brit Konta had the killer edge.

Konta's two set wins were tight tiebreaks - a far cry from Tomljanovic's effort, where she conceded just two games. However, a 9-7 final set tiebreak went the way of Konta, Tomljanovic letting it slip after a fine effort.


 

DARIA GAVRILOVA OUSTED BY SLOVENIAN YOUNGSTER

Tamara Zidanšek def. Daria Gavrilova 7-5 6-3

Dasha had few answers for her Slovenian opponent, but Zidanšek needed 104 minutes to get the job done.

Regardless, the gap was obvious between the pair - Zidanšek hit 12 more winners, while Gavrilova made 38 unforced errors.


 

DESTANEE AIAVA NO MATCH FOR MADISON KEYS

Madison Keys def. Destanee Aiava 6-2 6-2

2015 semi-finalist Keys needed just 71 minutes to send 18-year-old Aiava packing, the American hitting 18 more winners in a dominant performance.

Now on three first round exits in a row, Aiava will already be looking to 2020 to reach new heights.