Australian Open 2023 day one: Swiatek, Tsitsipas and Medvedev in action – live

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Elsewhere, veteran Stan Wawrinka is in a right battle with Alex Molcan. The 2014 champion here is 2-1 up in sets against Alex Molcan, with the play on serve in the fourth.

Tsitsipas swept to the opening set 6-3 against Halys, but knows he’s in a match, 2-2 in the second set. But the Greek has been dominant with the ball in hand, losing just five points on serve in the entire match. And one of those was a double fault.

What qualifies as a success for Raducanu at the moment? She is still preposterously young, having just turned 20, and just being fit enough to play here after her recent injury problems is something of a win. There would be no shame to losing to Gauff but the hard court is her favourite surface so she will still be confident playing her American rival.

I’ve posted Tumaini’s report of Raducanu’s win already, but it’s worth flagging who the Brit will play in the second round: Coco Gauff. The pair have never met and Gauff has looked sharp, winning the ASB Classic in New Zealand (where she was No 1 seed) just over a week ago.

Niemeier races into a 30-0 lead before Swiatek claws things back to 40-30. A thundering forehand from the German punishes a weak second serve to get to deuce but a couple of sloppy errors gift the opening game to the world No 1. I would say Swiatek is looking a little tentative but still very early days.

Jule Niemeier thumps a forehand to Swiatek. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters

Slightly off topic, but this is very good. Casper Ruud, one of the world’s best players, looks like a little boy here. Nadal the French Open final in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0.

Swiatek’s match has been slightly delayed, but the world No 1 is coming out onto the court now. He’s playing Jule Niemeier, who is a big-serving German. They actually played in last year’s US Open round-of-16, and Niemeier won the opening set 6-2. Swiatek battles back to win, of course, on her way to beating Ons Jabeur in the final.

Tsitsipas is underway, playing the unseeded Quentin Halys. It’s about a 5km hop to the beach from the Margaret Court Arena to St Kilda Beach, and the Greek is strutting around the gaff in what appears to be some excellent board shorts. It’s currently on serve, Tsitsipas is 2-1 up and already hitting some monstrous forehands down towards the Frenchman.

Stefanos Tsitsipas reaches for a backhand. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Preamble

Welcome to the first day of Australian Open! You join us for the evening session. There’s already a lot to catch up on, and plenty more to come, so much like an Ivo Karlovic service game, there’s no time for dallying. Let’s get straight into it.

Here’s what you may have missed so far. It’s already been quite the day.