AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Mixed Opening Day for Croatia’s Hopes

The last tennis Grand Slam was won by a Croatian, but it is looking unlikely that they will make it back-to-back Slams after a mixed opening day at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday…

With 2014 US Open champion Marin Čilić out through injury, Croatia’s hopes rest on Ivo Karlović and Ivan Dodig in the men’s event in Melbourne. Karlović, who beat world number 1 Novak Djoković two weeks ago, won his match on Monday comfortably to make it through to the second round. Karlović was too good for Ruben Bemelmans, winning 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in just over one and a half hours, to set up a match with Australian Nick Kyrgios.

Rising stars Borna Ćorić and Ana Konjuh both were bundled out of the tournament on Monday after losing their respective matches against Jeremy Chardy and Magdalena Rybarikova. Meanwhile Petra Martić, who was a qualifier, was beaten in straight sets by number 2 seed Maria Sharapova. Mirjana Lučić-Baroni, Donna Vekić and Dodig all play on Tuesday.