Australian Open LIVE: Results as Aryna Sabalenka defeats Sloane Stephens and latest scores as Alexander Zverev advances

Loads of eyes can be on the fortunes of one other Brit in Melbourne over the subsequent fortnight, with Andy Murray embarking on his teaching profession with a relatively demanding pupil. Jamie Braidwood explains how the partnership took place, and why it would simply be what Novak Djokovic wants.

British No 1 Jack Draper opens his Australian Open tomorrow with a first-round match in opposition to Mariano Navone of Argentina. May this be the 12 months that the teenager takes the subsequent step to turn into a daily grand slam contender? Kieran Jackson explores:

Sonay Kartal was dissatisfied along with her efficiency on her Australian Open debut as she fell within the opening spherical to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

The British No 3 received solely one of many first 10 video games – following an extended rain delay – however mounted a comeback and was near forcing a deciding set earlier than shedding out 6-1 7-6 (5).

Lower than an hour of play was attainable on the skin courts earlier than an enormous thunderstorm hit Melbourne Park, sending spectators operating for canopy and inflicting a delay of greater than six hours.

The matches continued as scheduled on the three lined courts, and Sabalenka opened the evening session on Rod Laver Enviornment with a 6-3 6-2 victory over former US Open champion Sloane Stephens.

• Mirra Andreeva (14), Russia, def. Marie Bouzkova, Czechia, 6-3, 6-3
• Zheng Qinwen (5), China, def. Anca Alexia Todoni, Romania, 7-6 (3), 6-1
• Donna Vekic (18), Croatia, def. Diane Parry, France, 6-4, 6-4.
• Tatjana Maria, Germany, def. Bernarda Pera, United States, 7-6 (3), 6-4.
• Paula Badosa (11), Spain, def. Wang Xinyu, China, 6-3, 7-6 (5).
• Suzan Lamens, Netherlands, def. Veronika Erjavec, Slovenia, 7-5, 7-6 (2).
• Leylah Annie Fernandez (30), Canada, def. Yuliia Starodubtseva, Ukraine, 7-5, 6-4.
• Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Spain, def. Sonay Kartal, Britain, 6-1, 7-6 (5).
• Aryna Sabalenka (1), Belarus, def. Sloane Stephens, United States, 6-3, 6-2.
• Clara Tauson, Denmark, def. Linda Noskova (29), Czechia, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
• Cristina Bucsa, Spain, def. Chloe Paquet, France, 6-2, 6-3.

• Arthur Fils (20), France, def. Otto Virtanen, Finland, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-4.
• Kei Nishikori, Japan, def. Thiago Monteiro, Brazil, 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3
• Casper Ruud (6), Norway, def. Jaume Munar, Spain, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
• Hugo Gaston, France, def. Omar Jasika, Australia, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
• Hady Habib, Lebanon, def. Yunchaokete Bu, China, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (6).
• Pedro Martinez, Spain, def. Luciano Darderi, Italy, 6-3, 4-1, ret.
• Jiri Lehecka (24), Czechia, def. Li Tu, Australia, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1).
• Tomas Machac (26), Czechia, def. Sumit Nagal, India, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5.
• Ugo Humbert (14), France, def. Matteo Gigante, Italy, 7-6 (5), 7-5, 6-4.
• Alexander Zverev (2), Germany, def. Lucas Pouille, France, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

An excellent begin for World No 2 Alexander Zverev in Melbourne as he thunders an ace out broad to beat Lucas Pouille 6-4 6-4 6-4 on the opening evening.

Such a powerful efficiency behind serve from the German, who can be an actual menace this month if he retains that up. The Frenchman had a take a look at simply two break-points, with Zverev saving each.

The World No 2 fired 18 aces to simply two double faults. He had 18 break level probabilities and wanted only one per set to win in straight-sets. Job performed.

The very last thing Lucas Pouille might afford to do after shedding the primary set in opposition to Alexander Zverev was dropping his serve within the opening recreation.

However he did and from there Zverev serves it out to take a giant step nearer to the second spherical. It’s 6-4 6-4 to the World No 2 and second seed.

Elsewhere, Lebanese qualifier Hady Habib broke new floor for the strife-torn nation on Sunday as he beat China’s Bu Yunchaokete 7-6(4) 6-4 7-6(6) to achieve the second spherical of the Australian Open.

The world quantity 219 turned his nation’s first participant to win a males’s singles primary draw match at a Grand Slam within the skilled period and soaked up wild cheers from a rowdy crowd packing the small terraces on Melbourne Park’s Courtroom 13.

With followers chanting his identify, the Texas-born 26-year-old raised his racket on the crowd and held up a Lebanese flag after claiming the decisive tiebreak.

Alexander Zverev, so sturdy behind his serve when it’s firing, takes the opening set 6-4 againt France’s Lucas Pouille on Rod Laver Enviornment.

The Wold No 2 needed to combat for that. Pouille put up some resistance late within the first set and saved 4 set factors, however the huge German discovered his serve to recover from the road.

A defeated semi-finalist right here final 12 months, Zverev expects to be in competition once more this month. He’s racing in opposition to the clock tonight, as he takes the primary set at 9:30pm Melbourne time.

Aryna Sabalenka after beating Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-2:

“It was a tricky match. They’re at all times robust matches in opposition to her. I don’t really feel like I performed my finest in all probability however I’m glad that I managed to shut this match in straight units.

“I’m tremendous completely satisfied to be again. I like this place and now we have a full stadium, I imply I couldn’t dream for extra. Thanks a lot for coming and supporting us. I actually get pleasure from enjoying in entrance of you each time.”