It was a day where order prevailed at the Canberra International, with all the seeds in both the men’s and women’s events making it through unscathed.
The men’s draw promised some entertaining first round matches, with Jordan Thompson (NSW) and Marinko Matosevic (Vic) going the distance in the match of the day.
After trading sets, it was the third seeded Thompson who prevailed over the former World No. 39 with a 6-2 2-6 6-4 win. Top seed John Millman (Qld) breezed past Blake Mott (NSW) 6-1 6-0 in under an hour to start the days play, while second seed Matt Ebden (WA) was also untroubled by 2014 US Open Junior Singles and Doubles champion Omar Jasika (Vic), winning 6-4 6-1.
In the women’s tournament, fourth seed Misa Eguchi (JPN), eighth seed So-Ra Lee (KOR) and Australian hopeful Kimberly Birrell (Qld) all advanced.
Local hope Alison Bai got her doubles campaign off to a red hot start, teaming up with Ling Zhang (HKG) for a 6-2 6-2 win over Naiktha Bains (Vic) and Jennifer Elie (USA).
Bai will headline the action at the Canberra Tennis Centre tomorrow, taking on second seed Eri Hozumi (JPN) in her first round singles match. Despite being ranked 129 places below Hozumi, Bai is coming off a semifinal showing in Brisbane and a quarterfinal in Toowoomba and will relish the hometown advantage.
Also in action tomorrow is Canberra’s James Frawley in the doubles. Frawley and Harry Bourchier (Tas) will take on another Aussie pairing in Jasika and Bradley Mousley (SA). In the singles, Millman, Thompson and fifth seed Luke Saville (SA) will all be back on court.
Entry to the Canberra Tennis Centre is free with play starting at 10am on Wednesday.
All Order of Play and Draw information can be found here: tennis.com.au/protour/canberra
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