12 Upsets In Round 1 of Aussie Open!

Credit: Lukas Coch/European Pressphoto Agency

Top Seeds Fall in Round 1 – Aussie Open.

If the rest of the Australian Open is just as amazing as the first round, well we are in for a treat! The Australian Open for those who don’t know is the first of four Major Grand Slams in the Women’s Tennis Association. A little over a month after the final tournament of 2015, the 2016 season has already begun. The first big moves of the year happen in the Aussie Open, from who to watch to who will become the next fan favorite there is always something or someone to root for. In round one, the fans were given all they can ask for watching 12 of 32 seeded players heading home with early upsets.

#1 Serena would battle with Italian Camila Giorgi in the first round of the Aussie Open. Giorgi did not seem intimidated by the powerful Williams, and controlled play well in the opening games of set one. Giorgi would benefit from her serve until Serena earned a break point to take set control of the opening set. Williams hampered with an injury, walked around gingerly after a few plays but never really let any real pain show. Maybe it could be some rust but Serena would be taken the wire in both sets by Giorgi. Williams would hold on to defeat Camila 6-4, 7-5, and looks to a second round matchup with Su-Wei Hsieh.

We Mentioned upsets didn’t we, oh yea that’s right 12 of 32…

In the most shocking upset of the Australian Open the #2 seed Simona Halep fell to Shaui Zhang 6-4, 6-3. Halep got down early to her opponent and could never regroup from the opening set. Halep struggled with her serve and allowed Zhang to play one of the best matches of her career. Zhang was all over the court against Simona, she covered ground and her placement was on point. In the first set, Zhang took a 5-2 lead but Halep would battle back taking her serve and breaking Zhang on the next break opportunity for Simona. It was quickly 5-4 and Halep looked poised for the comeback. Shaui Zhang would take the next game to win the set 6-4 but Halep had some momentum going into the second set. In the second set, Halep used her strong finish to propel her to a 3-1 advantage. Zhang not to be done, said to reporter, “I had nothing to lose”… Well said. Zhang would storm back in set number two! Halep holding the lead, would not play well throughout the rest of the set, her backhand would not be on target as it usually is. The quality of play for Simona was definitely down and Zhang took control of that tying the match at 3 all before taking the remaining three games. Zhang defeated Halep in straight sets making Simona the highest seed to fall on day one.

In the second biggest upset of the day, Venus Williams' 69th Grand Slam fell short of a magical run Tuesday when she was upset by WTA Rising star Johanna Konta. Venus was the oldest player in the women’s draws, whose maiden Australian Open was in 1998, (I WAS 8)!! Venus had high hopes coming into the season's first major tournament after a strong finish to the 2015 season. The performance last season placed Williams back in the Top 10.

Unfortuntely Williams will suffer a straight set defeat to Konta, who over powered and out hustled the veteran Willaims. Venus kept the first set close, but was no match for Konta in the second set defeating Williams 6-4, 6-2 victory in 79 minutes for one of the biggest wins of her career.

The Other 10 Players to be Upset!

#16 Caroline Wozniacki

#17 Sara Errani

#22 Andrea Petkovic

#24 Slone Stephens

#25 Samantha Stosur

#26 Anastasia Paulychenkova

#27 Anna Schmiedlova

#29 Irina-Camelia Begu

#31 Lesia Tsurenko

#32 Caroline Garcia

Second round action begins today? Tonight? Um just look up times!