Rafael Nadal’s injured back didn’t slow his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title on Tuesday, as women’s world number one Ashleigh Barty romped to a 6-0, 6-0 “double bagel” at the Australian Open.
On a day when women’s champion Sofia Kenin also reached round two, but two-time winner Victoria Azarenka lost after breathing problems, Nadal and Barty were the headline acts at the coronavirus-delayed Slam.
Spanish great Nadal, who pulled out of last week’s ATP Cup with back problems, beat Serbia’s Laslo Djere, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, in one hour and 52 minutes on a sun-kissed Rod Laver Arena.
“It’s been a tough 15 days for me,” said Nadal, whose back stiffness first flared during an exhibition match last month.
Nadal, 34, is attempting to outstrip his old rival Roger Federer, who is out with injury, and take sole ownership of the all-time record for Grand Slam titles.
Barty outclassed Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic, losing only 10 points as she raced into round two in just 44 minutes.
Women’s champion Kenin was less convincing and she audibly vented her frustrations during her 7-5, 6-4 win against Australian Maddison Inglis, who is ranked outside the top 100.
Two-time major-winner Garbine Muguruza had little trouble beating Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan, 6-4, 6-0.
But there were distressing scenes as an ailing Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 champion, went out to Jessica Pegula, 7-5, 6-4.
Azarenka, who only played one warm-up match last week, was seen gasping and using an inhaler, and then looked close to collapse on court. After a medical timeout she played on but lost.