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Patna : Reigning Olympic champion & 3rd seed Alexander Zverev, 24, Germany, 6th seed Rafael Nadal, 35, Spain, 7th seed Matteo Berrettini, 25, Italy, and 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz, 24, Poland, entered 2nd round of Australian Open (AO), the first Grand Slam event of the year, on January 17, 2022, at Melbourne, Australia,
World No 3 Zverev, the winner of ATP World Tour Finals trophy in 2018 & 2021, beat compatriot and World No 87 Daniel Altmaier, 23, in straight sets 7-6, 6-1, 7-6 in first round. Zverev hammered 14 Aces during the match to just 1 by Altmaier. He, however, also committed 6 double faults during the match to 3 by Altmaier. Zverev won 4 break points during the match to 1 by Altmaier. He won 5 games in a row in the match to 3 by Altmaier. Zverev will face John Millman, Australia, in 2nd round.
World No 5 Nadal, the winner of 20 Grand Slam singles titles, beat World No 66 Marcos Giron, 28, USA, in straight sets 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in first roud winning 5 break points and 7 games in a row during the match. THe 2009 AO champion Nadan fired 7 Aces during the match to 2 by the American. Nadal converted all his 5 break points. The Spaniard won 91 points in the match to 55 by Giron. Nadal will face qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, Germany, in 2nd round.
World No 7 Berrettini beat World No 68 Brandon Nakashima, 20, USA, in four-sets 4-6, 6-2, 7-6, 6-3 in first round rallying back from one set down. Berrettini hammered 21 Aces during the match to 12 by Nakashima. The Italian won 3 break points during the match to 1 by Nakashima.
World No 11 Hubert Jurkacz beat World No 106 Egor Gerasimov, 29, Belarus, 6-2, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 in first round. Hurkacz fired 16 Aces during the match to 5 by Gerasimov, who committed 5 double faults. The Pole won 7 break points during the match to 4 by Gerasimov.