In the men's singles of the ongoing Australian Open in Melbourne, China's Li Zhe, playing in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time, received a rude awakening from Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber with a straight-sets defeat. Li trailed 5-2 in the first set and, as he stumbled to the ground, his opponent won the first set 6-2 with a forehand winner.
A drop shot in the second gave the 32nd seed an easy 6-2 victory in the second set over his Chinese rival. The World No. 261 was eventually sent packing 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 when he could only find the net with Kohschreiber on match point. Portugal's Joao Sousa awaits Kohschreiber in the next round.
China's Li Zhe reacts in his first round match against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day two of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. /VCG Photo
Meanwhile, world number one Novak Djokovic opened his quest for a record seventh tournament title and 15th in total, with a straight sets win over American qualifier Mitchell Krueger earlier this morning. The World No. 230 broke early to lead 2-1, but the 31-year-old Serbian immediately leveled at 2-2, and eventually clinched the first set 6-3.
Djokovic began the second much better than the first, breaking Krueger in the opening game with more patience. He went on to take the set 6-2. Subsequently, on match point, the 31-year-old closed the third set with another 6-2 win when Krueger hit the net. "Djoker" will next face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in a repeat of 2008 final, when the Serbian won his first major title.
In the day's some other matches, seventh-seeded Dominic Thiem won a five-set marathon against France's Benoit Paire, local favorite Nick Kyrgios lost to 16th seed Milos Raonic in straight sets, while the three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka also progressed after his opponent Ernests Gulbis retired hurt.