Tennis courts aren’t just battlegrounds for epic matches—they’re the birthplace of fiery rivalries and endless fan chatter! And guess what? The Australian Open is already delivering more than just aces and volleys this year. The spotlight isn’t just on the jaw-dropping performances of stars like Aryna Sabalenka and teen sensation Mirra Andreeva; instead, it’s the scheduling of matches that has everyone buzzing. So what’s behind all the noise? 

The first Grand Slam kicked off its main draw on Sunday, January 12. Fans witnessed several thrilling clashes unfolding in the courts of Melbourne. From the bounce back of Kei Nishikori to the complete dominance depicted by Sabalenka against Sloane Stephens, the first day delivered scintillating moments for tennis enthusiasts. However, unlike the usual Sundays of a Grand Slam, the Australian Open witnessed the absence of most of the tour’s top players like Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, and Coco Gauff, on the first day, which seems to have upset the fans.

Taking to X, a user questioned, “Was this the worst first day of a grand slam since.. ever?” This sentiment quickly gained traction, with a lot of people sharing their own takes on the question. While some claimed that the first day was indeed boring as it failed to create enough hype for the center stage during a Grand Slam event, others did not quite agree with it.

On the flip side, several users took to the platform to share their contentment. They claimed that although the number of thrilling matches was lesser than usual, there were just enough to set off the start of the tournament. Now, the debate only seems to be growing.

Fans stand divided over the Australian Open scheduling

Taking to X, a user wrote, “Can’t think of anything worse tbh, I agree.” Notably, the second day of the Australian Open has more high-profile matches. With players like Naomi Osaka, Jessica Pegula, Gauff, and Swiatek playing their matches on the WTA side, the men’s side will witness Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios, Sinner, and Alcaraz coming onto the courts to prove their mettle, thereby taking the Manic Monday’s excitement to fever pitch. However, if some of these players could have been scheduled to play on Monday, surely the reactions from fans would have been different. More such reactions continued to follow.

Another user commented, “Dull matchups. 0 hype. Nothing out of the ordinary.” Most of the matches played on the first day had clear favorites without fans having to scratch their heads much. While three 5-setter matches unfolded on the ATP side, the women’s side remained relatively quiet with all the matches ending in straight sets, except the ones between Anna Blinkova and Daria Saville, and Clara Tauson and Linda Nosková. However, there were some opposing views as well. 

“How come it was worst? Multiple 5 setters played on Day 1” The men’s side did indeed witness some unexpected incidents happening on the courts. One such moment came during the match between Casper Ruud and Jaume Munar. Ruud, who played against a much lower-ranked player than himself, witnessed a tough time as the duo went on to win alternative sets. It was only in the final set that Ruud managed to outshine the Spaniard and seal off the match 6-3, 1-6,  7-5, 2-6, 6-1.

One more user joined the fray with the question, “Did u even see Nishikori’s comeback?????? Watched it on and off, was flipping channels for 3 hours. I did catch a decent chunk of the last 3 sets and the tail end of the second.” Remember, Kei Nishikori played his first match against Brazilian Thiago Monteiro, and almost lost the match. But despite giving away the first two sets, the Japanese star bounced back in style and eventually emerged victorious with a score line that read 4-6, 6(4)-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3, having fired a whopping total of 17 aces.

Yet another user expressed their take and wrote, “Yes, especially because I was cheering for Monteiro…😢.” Regardless of who fans root for, the chatter around the season-opening Grand Slam is heightening. As the second day dawns upon us, the buzz is palpable, with fans anticipating exciting clashes… and who knows, perhaps some major upsets too! Manic Monday is here, and even the naysaying fans are sure to change their tune today before all days. Stay tuned as we cover the nooks and crannies of the tournament throughout!