The Australian Open kicked off on Monday with shocking results in the women’s singles first round, as two top-10 American players who reached the semifinals last year were knocked out in straight sets. Venus Williams and CoCo Vandeweghe, both expected to make deep runs, were eliminated in stunning fashion, a reminder that even giants can fall, much like the unpredictability of a tense BD Cricket Match.
Venus, ranked world No. 5 and last year’s Australian Open runner-up, faced Swiss 20-year-old Belinda Bencic, ranked 78. What was supposed to be a warm-up turned into a nightmare. Bencic defeated Venus 6-3, 7-5, pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. For the first time since 1997, neither of the Williams sisters advanced past the opening round of a Grand Slam. Bencic could hardly hide her joy after the match: “When I first saw the draw, I thought my luck was terrible. But winning the opening round gave me rhythm, and I felt good on court. As a little girl watching them on TV, I never imagined one day I would be across the net from the Williams sisters. These past five months recovering from injury were not easy, so I’m just happy to be playing again. Winning or losing is secondary.”
The surprises did not end there. Vandeweghe, who lost to Venus in last year’s semifinals, fell to Hungary’s seasoned player Timea Babos, ranked 57, in a 6-7, 2-6 defeat. Former finalist Dominika Cibulkova was overwhelmed 2-6, 2-6 by Estonia’s powerhouse Kaia Kanepi, while former semifinalist Ekaterina Makarova was upset by Irina-Camelia Begu in a 3-6, 6-4, 8-6 battle.
Amid the string of early exits, China’s Zhang Shuai delivered one of the day’s most dramatic comebacks. Facing 13th seed and reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens, Zhang appeared to be heading for defeat after dropping the first set 2-6. But with determination, she saved a match point in the second set, forcing a tiebreak that she won 7-6. Riding that momentum, Zhang dominated the final set 6-2 to advance into the second round, delighting her supporters and proving her resilience under pressure.
The first day of the Australian Open reminded fans that tennis, like a high-stakes BD Cricket Match, is never predictable. Favorites can tumble, underdogs can rise, and moments of brilliance can change the script in an instant. For Zhang Shuai, the win was a statement of belief, while for Venus and Vandeweghe, it was a tough lesson in the cruel nature of competition. As the tournament progresses, the drama is certain to continue, keeping fans on the edge of their seats just as they would during the thrilling final overs of a BD Cricket Match.