Jannik Sinner barely broke sweat in launching his quest to win a third Australian Open in a row Tuesday as Naomi Osaka stole the show with a bold fashion statement.
Ahead of the final match on day three on Rod Laver Arena, former world No 1 Osaka emerged holding a white umbrella and wearing a matching wide-brimmed hat and veil. The 28-year-old from Japan is well known for her on-court fashion statements.
She wore her latest outfit as she came out for her night match at centre court against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic.
She waved regally to the crowd and the four-time Grand Slam champion then folded up the umbrella and neatly put the hat and veil to the side.
Meanwhile the Italian Sinner strolled into round two when French opponent Hugo Gaston retired on Rod Laver Arena with the second seed in full control at 6-2, 6-1.
Gaston slumped to his chair and shook his head as his Australian Open ended in distress.
Two-time reigning champion Sinner said it was not how he wanted to win, but was pleased with his night’s work.
“I knew from the beginning that I had to play a very high level and was trying to be as aggressive as possible, which I’ve done,” he said.
Should he win three titles in a row in Melbourne, Sinner would join Novak Djokovic as the only men in the Open era to do so.
