Pack It Up, Pack It In, Let Me Begin

Today was the first day of the main draw that I was on the premises.   Sorry,  Sunday starts don't count as they are just a money grab and the results are normally forgotten about.  This edition,  they had matches that were meant for today,  rescheduled for tomorrow,  but can't control the weather.

Onto the positives,  it took 20 minutes to get in as there were a huge amount of people but to be fair and the line moved fairly quickly got into the complex.  As for the other aspects more on those later.

Mensik vs.  Bashashvili

A match between the old and new.   Last year at 18 years old Menšík had qualified for the Open defeating the overrated Shapovalov before losing in 5 sets to the big Pole Hurkacz. Menšík is a big talent to anyone with functioning eyesight can see that,  but he's still raw.

Bashashvili,  well he had some issues in the past and as a player the difference between his best and worst is large.  He had qualified for the main draw,  that's the thing about tennis the game does move quickly and it's easy to be left behind.

Hard to say much about this match.   There was a lot of big hitting,  not too much science,  both players weren't playing well at the same time.  In the end it was Menšík who had the bigger game,   served well at times and played the bigger points better.

Menšík

Yes,  it went to 4 sets,  but there was never in any danger that Menšík was going to lose. It's one of those where the player is happy just to get the win and improve on the next performance.

Daniel vs. Schoolkate

If I wasn't too enthused about the previous match,  then this one was worse.  Daniel has lost confidence and started the season poorly.  Schoolkate is the local Aussie wildcard who has definitely not skipped on gym sessions.

The first 2 sets were close mainly because they were serving  well and not too much action on the return games.   The 3rd set Daniel had a lapse of concentration and Schoolkate kept up this level with the support of the crowd definitely helped taking a 2 sets to 1 lead.

The 4th set started the same as the first and second,  both were holding serve comfortably.  Schoolkate got the break in the 4th and closed it out.  The reward is a lesson against Jannik Sinner.

Daniel,  the serve lacked pop and the shots as well.   When he was playing well both the serve and forehand were heavy using each to open up the court to keep the opponent on the move.   The lack of confidence is clear and the first place it shows in the movement.  Daniel looked very heavy legged and it shows, as he is not in position to hit the good shots.   

Davidovich Fokina vs.  Shang

Unlike the other two matches this was very entertaining but sadly too brief.   Foki has had an interesting career trajectory and not in the right direction.   Last year he sacked his long time coach,  then hired Fernando Verdasco which was a spectacular failure.   Now he is working with David Sanchez and Felix Mantilla hopefully he gets back on track,  but that is up to him.

This match was on the pub court aka Court 6.  As the previous match had a Chinese player,  Shang was definitely the crowd favourite which was mostly Chinese,  who were lively.  Foki dropped his first service game which was mostly dumb errors.   

Shang was using his lefty angles and forehand to dominate the play.  Foki was in the mood to fight and start hitting the ball better in the extended rallies,  yes there were a few boneheaded plays but not as many as usual. Foki was hitting some very clean forehands and willing to move to the net to finish the point.   The 12th game was very hard fought with lots of deuces and break points,  Foki managed to take and get it to the buster.

Both players were playing well with the shotmaking.   Foki from both sides whereas Sheng was using the forehand to open the court up.   Foki was moving very well and only had a couple of slips which is unusual for him.   He managed to take the first set TB.

The second set started the same way with Foki losing his first service game,  but was able to break back straight away.  Not long afterwards Shang started to grab his leg,  at the change of ends the physio was checking him out.   Foki played it smart,  stretching and testing Shang's movement.    At 5-2 in the 2nd Shang pulled the pin,  just hope he's ok and now Foki is through to the 2nd round.

Other stuff

In the last few years there has been a been a big increase in French fans at the Open.  I like the atmosphere that they brink and yes they sing La Marselliase,  but to be fair it's one of the great anthems.  They managed to get Cavaux to over the line over Sebastian Baez.  If we are being honest as good as Baez is on the clay, he really is the Teemu Diego Schwartzman and he's the seed you want to draw.

Chris O'Connell lost a tough 5 setter to Tommy Paul.   He is one of the good guys on the tennis tour and disappointed he couldn't win it.  I mean he lost his coach Marinko Matosevic to Jordan Thompson,  it was O'Connell who recommended Marinko to coach Jordy.   It helped both players to achieve their best performances,  but now Marinko is focused on Jordy,  then he is the higher ranked player.

As for the pack it up, pack it in it fits the scene at Melbourne Park.  Tennis Australia will crow about the record crowd numbers,  but what's the point of this when it is an awful fan experience for the most part.  There are just way too many people and the court seating needs to be expanded.   Then again TA are packing in the money,  so this is something that will not change.