Australian Open 2019: 100% winning start for Croatian players in first round
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
MELBOURNE, 15 January 2019 – It has been a 100% winning start for Croatian players in the first round of Australian Open in Melbourne.
Borna Ćorić and Ivo Karlović both won their opening matches on Tuesday and joined yesterday’s winners Marin Čilić, Donna Vekić
Ćorić, who had never won a first round match at the Australian Open, beat world no.31 Steve Darcis from Belgium comfortably in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Ćorić will face world no.38 Marton Fucsovics from Hungary in the second round.
Believe it or not, @borna_coric has never won a 1R at the #AusOpen…
Until now 🙌
The 11th seed def. Steve Darcis 6-1 6-4 6-4 to advance to the 2R for the first time. pic.twitter.com/VxXrpundxZ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 15, 2019
Meanwhile, Karlović, who turns 40 in a few weeks, had to work a bit harder than Ćorić but eventually overcame world no.76 Hubert Hurkacz from Polan in four tiebreakers, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6.
He now meets eighth seed Kei Nishikori in the second round on Thursday.
Stand and deliver 💪@ivokarlovic fires down 39 aces to def. Hubert Hurkacz 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 7-6(3) 7-5(5)#AusOpen #GameSetMatch pic.twitter.com/w0vrWGIk3Y
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 15, 2019
