On Margaret Court Arena, Alex de Minaur (27) was scheduled to play Pedro Sousa from Portugal. This would be Pedro’s first main draw match in a Grand Slam tournament, at the ripe old age of 30.
Alex would be hoping to continue his fine form from Sydney where he won the title just two days ago.
Sousa served first, and held with conviction. In fact that was the case for the first four games.
In game five, Sousa found the net three times giving de Minaur three break points - only one required and the Australian led 3-2 with serve to come.
A lengthy baseline rally ended with de Minaur winning, and 30-0 came easily. The love game took Alex to 4-2.
Sousa responded with his own love game, finishing with a touch volley.
From another 40-0 position, de Minaur frittered away his advantage with loose shots, going beyond deuce, and donating a break point to Portugal. This vanished and the Aussie held for 5-3.
Sousa rattled through his game, then asking de Minaur to serve for the opening set.
The job was done skilfully
After exchanging service holds, Sousa held again to love, de Minaur unable to put a ball into play. A Portuguese backhand pass made it 30-30, before de Minaur delivered a couple of solid serves and levelled at 2-2.
Following a netted forehand and stray backhand, Sousa was down two break points. One was saved with a forced error, the second with some attacking tennis. Sousa held for 3-2.
Soon it was 4-4.
A forehand winner from Sousa was matched by a backhand down the line from de Minaur, but it was a comfortable game to Sousa who edged in front 5-4
de Minaur then controlled things, levelling with a service hold (a lucky net cord included), before patiently waiting for Sousa to fold after the longest rally, and following with a backhand winner.
A double fault and two break points. One needed, and de Minaur served for a two set lead.
Two loose shots off the Portuguese racquet, and a return miss, gave the Australian two set points and he only required one.
The lead now 6-4 7-5.
de Minaur won the first three games of the third set, breaking the Sousa serve twice in the process.
Although Sousa struck back in the fourth game, breaking to love, de Minaur held serve for the remainder of the match, serving out 6-4 7-5 6-4 to earn a spot in the second round.
Sousa hit more winners for the match but his tally of unforced errors brought him undone.
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