As it happened Australian Open 2023: Nick Kyrgios withdraws from competition; Rafael Nadal beats Jack Draper, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas in action on day one

Australian Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the Australian Open.

An MRI showed a small tear in Kyrgios’s meniscus after the 27-year-old experienced discomfort in his knee, Marc McGowan reported.

“I’m extremely disappointed,” the top-ranked Australian player said.

“I’m devastated. This is my home tournament and obviously winning the tournament in doubles and playing the best tennis of my life probably. All I can do is my best to come back.”

Kyrgios was due to play at 7pm AEDT tomorrow in his first round match against Roman Safiullin. He was also planning to defend his doubles title alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis, starting on Wednesday.

Physiotherapist Will Maher said Kyrgios’s team used the charity match against Novak Djokovic on Friday to test out the injured knee and Kyrgios “didn’t pull up great”.

Calling it the Barty effect might take too much credit away from the Australian rising star she is mentoring.

But it sure helps having defending Australian Open champion Ash Barty in your corner.

Queensland wildcard Olivia Gadecki made a sensational start to her grand slam career on Monday, breezing past Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova 7-5, 6-1 to be the Open’s first local winner.

Gadecki, 20, did not face a break point until she was a set and 4-0 up, possibly owing to her seeing the finish line - but she swatted away a forehand drive volley to emphatically save it and was soon one game from victory.

Displaying nerves of steel, the world No.199 completed victory with an ace before raising her arms in triumph and embracing her mother courtside.

Gadecki missed last year’s Australian Open due to not wanting to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but she had already been ushered into her country’s Billie Jean King Cup squad by then and identified as a major part of its future.

She is one of only five Australian women in the Open’s main draw after Ajla Tomljanovic’s withdrawal on Saturday, on top of Barty’s retirement and Daria Saville recovering from a second ACL setback.

Gadecki will next play Marta Kostyuk, who eliminated 28th seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-4.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of day one of the Australian Open.

Games commence at 11am AEDT at Melbourne Park and there are plenty of Australians, international up-and-comers and returning masters of the game on court today.

Olivia Gadecki will be the first Australian in action at 11am Melbourne time as she faces Polina Kudermetova, the younger sister of ninth seed Veronika Kudermetova.

Perth teenager Talia Gibson is up just after noon to make her grand slam debut against French qualifier Clara Burel.

Fresh from hitting a career-high ranking of 86 following his heroics at the United Cup, where he downed world No. 27 Dan Evans and No. 39 Albert Ramos Vinolas, Jason Kubler has his first ever clash with world No. 41 Sebastian Baez at 3.30pm AEDT.

Storm Hunter, Rinky Hijikata and John Millman also begin their Australian Open campaigns. Defending champion Rafael Nadal will play Jack Draper on Rod Laver Arena at 2.30pm AEDT.

It’s classic Australian summer weather at Melbourne Park today with a high of 29 degrees, a partly cloudy sky with no chance of rain, and a southeasterly gust picking up to keep the crowds cool at about midday.

Seventh seed and world No.8 Daniil Medvedev has cruised through to the second round after defeating USA’s Marcos Giron in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in one hour and 36 minutes.

The Russian said post-win he was really happy with the match and credited Giron for being a tough competitor.

He added that last year he enjoyed what were “crazy matches”, including against Australian Nick Kyrgios, but he’s hoping to leave Melbourne Park after going one better following his runner-up finish to Rafael Nadal.

“Great memories but definitely want to have better ones this year,” he said.

Medvedev will next take on Australian John Millman in the second round.

Medvedev v Giron 6-0, 6-1, 6-2

Daniil Medvedev has won the first two sets against Marcos Giron 6-0, 6-1.

The Russian is breezing through the first round despite some long rallies, including one that went for 20 shots in the opening set, and 30 in the second.

Medvedev v Giron 6-0, 6-1

Meanwhile, 17th seed Lorenzo Musetti is out in five against South African Lloyd Harris.

After 37 minutes, world No.8 Daniil Medvedev has won the opening set against American Marcos Giron 6-0.

The longest rally in the set went for 20 shots.

The Russian star has sent down another ace to hold 1-0 to open the second set.

Medvedev v Giron 6-0

One of the highlights of being at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open is being able to get up close and personal with the players.

And it’s not all about centre court action – here’s Julie Ferguson and her son, Jack, watching Daniil Medvedev train earlier in the day.

Medvedev is currently taking on American Marcos Giron on Rod Laver Arena.

Madison Keys has sealed the first set 6-4 against Anna Blinkova.

The No.10 seed got off to a wobbly start, but seemed to find her feet just as Blinkova upped her error count.

World No.1 Iga Swiatek credited reigning Australian Open champion Ash Barty as motivating her to improve after her first-round win over German Jule Niemeier.

“Last year when I lost to her in Adelaide, I was like ‘I have to do everything to learn how to get back this slice and cope with the change of rhythm’,” said Swiatek post-win.

“For the next few months, I was really, really motivated. I’m really grateful for that. I know she didn’t do anything to make it happen. Her tennis is amazing and she really pushed us to our limits and she still kind of won easily.

“She’s just a huge inspiration and the way she behaves, she’s so classy.”

Swiatek had some wobbles early on but fought back on Rod Laver Arena to claim the win 6-4, 7-5, and advance to the second round.