The first shocking upset of the Australian Open's opening day occurred, with Wang Xinyu and Zheng Saisai teaming up to aim for a Grand Slam title.

The Australian Open main draw started just today, and the first major upset took place on the center court, brought about by the Italian player Paolini.

As the player to open the center court’s first match, the pre-match view was that the seventh seed Paolini would face Belarusian Sasnovich, with more hope placed on the Italian’s victory, but it was also acknowledged that Paolini might not have an easy path to progress.

Although Sasnovich’s ranking and results were not as strong as Paolini’s, the Belarusian’s three straight wins in qualifying to reach the main draw showed she was no rookie. Moreover, having advanced through qualifying, Sasnovich was at peak confidence and form, while Paolini was playing at the Australian Open for the first time, adding an element of uncertainty to her chances of advancing.

It was expected that Paolini might need some time to adjust in the first set, but surprisingly, the Italian showed dominance. After Sasnovich took the opening game, Paolini completely took control of the set, turning it into a one-woman show and reducing the Belarusian to a mere spectator on court. No matter how hard Sasnovich fought back, Paolini denied her any chance of a comeback, winning the first set 6-1 and putting herself in a commanding position.

Having fought fiercely against strong opponents in qualifying, Sasnovich was unexpectedly overwhelmed and repeatedly pressed down in the main draw, a sudden turn that clearly caught her off guard and unsettled her mentally. Paolini seized this opportunity without hesitation, storming to a 5-1 lead in the second set, placing herself at the peak of the match and piling immense pressure on Sasnovich.

Just when everyone thought the Belarusian would likely collapse and exit the tournament with a straight-set loss, this huge crisis suddenly woke Sasnovich up completely.

Noticing a clear improvement in her play from the seventh game onward, Sasnovich launched a spirited comeback to narrow the score to 2-5. Fans and viewers in the live chat even predicted that Paolini would have to fight hard to close out the match. Unfortunately, the Belarusian’s momentum came too late, and Paolini eventually sealed the match 6-2, handing Sasnovich a harsh defeat. Sasnovich became the main victim of Paolini’s stunning debut at the Australian Open, with her singles campaign ending as quickly as a flash of fireworks.

After the match, when discussing why the outcome deviated so much from pre-match expectations, many believed that Sasnovich’s heavy 3-game haul loss to Paolini was mainly due to nerves.

Looking back at the Belarusian’s history at the Australian Open, having reached the third round twice in 2018 and 2019 at Melbourne Park, it shows her strength is not as weak as assumed. Coupled with her impressive run through qualifying, the only plausible reason for her crushing defeat by Paolini is that it was her first time playing on the center court, and she couldn’t manage the inner tension and pressure, resulting in a poor performance.

However, some fans humorously said this loss was a tuition fee Sasnovich had to pay, believing that with this lesson learned, her next encounter against top seeds on a Grand Slam center court will be much better. They also noted that Paolini’s swift victory did not affect the timely appearance of Zverev later, making for a smooth transition between matches.

Paolini’s Australian Open debut on the center court was a spectacular display, firmly establishing her presence as a top seed and raising expectations about whether the Italian can maintain this dominant form throughout Melbourne Park.

Another player drawing considerable attention is Wang Xinyu, especially her doubles partnership with Zheng Saisai, with many curious about what results they will deliver at the Australian Open.

After Zheng Qinwen’s withdrawal, Wang Xinyu once again became the leading Chinese star by ranking. In pre-match interviews, besides stating that winter training had put her in great shape for the new season, she also emphasized her awareness of the extra attention and pressure that come with being the team leader, promising to handle those expectations well.

Furthermore, when asked about partnering with Zheng Saisai in the doubles event at this year’s Australian Open, Wang Xinyu boldly declared their goal of winning a Grand Slam title: “Yes, of course, we hope to win a Grand Slam championship. Last year, both Zheng Saisai and I went through ups and downs and faced challenges. Playing doubles together this year feels more relaxed than last year. Now back on court, we can better enjoy the competition.”

Wang Xinyu and Zheng Saisai will face Cabrera and Preston in the first round of Australian Open doubles. Whether they have a shot at the title will depend on their performance. However, Wang’s new ambitious goal has certainly heightened the attention on their doubles campaign.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)