A day of firsts for Borna Coric, Alex Bolt and almost Kamil Majchrzak

Borna Coric, Alex Bolt and Taro Daniel are all into round 2 of the Australian Open for the first time while cramp cost Kamil Majchrzak his chance.
11th seed Coric defeated Steve Darcis 6-1 6-4 6-4 to advance to round two, recording his first-ever round 1 victory in Melbourne.
And he wasn’t the only player to write a piece of history on Tuesday.
Wildcard entrant Alex Bolt, who walked away tennis in 2016 to instead take up a job in construction, needed four sets to see of America’s Jack Sock, 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2.
MATCH!
Aussie superfans push Alex Bolt to victory in an epic against Jack Sock. #9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/X3NPa8eLxI
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 15, 2019
Speaking to the official ATP Tour website, Bolt, who had made it through the first round at a major, said: “I feel lucky.
“When I stopped, that could have been my life. I could be wilting away in the heat putting up fences right now. That’s a career path I would not have done well in, that’s for sure.
“Leaving tennis was the best thing I ever did.
“Before my break, I was living and dying by everything I did on the court. I couldn’t lose a point. I couldn’t lose a match. But coming back, my mindset was different.”
The 155th-ranked South Australian wildcard will next face French No29 seed Gilles Simon.
Meanwhile it was a case of what could have been for qualifier Kamil Majchrzak.
The Polish player looked to be on course for his first victory at a grand slam as he got the better of Kei Nishikori in the opening two sets of their match only for cramp to set in.
With his entire body, including his fingers, seizing in painful cramps, the grand slam rookie was forced to call it quits 0-3 down in the fifth.
Pain.
You definitely have to feel for Majchrzak who has played incredibly well until the cramping.#AusOpen #WAOW pic.twitter.com/FnmYkbYkOd
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) January 15, 2019
A lucky escape for Nishikori.
“It’s unfortunate how we finished. I feel sorry for him. I wouldn’t say it was a good game (because of how it ended) but I have to be happy for the next round,” said the World No8.
“I didn’t play badly but I have to give credit to my opponent who played better. He was amazing defensively and was stronger than I had imagined. His movements were restricted (after the injuries) and all I tried to do was not lose my concentration.”
Injury-plagued Thanasi Kokkinakis was another forced to retire early due to a pectoral problem.
Having taken the first set against Japan’s Taro Daniel, he was down 2-4 in the second when he called it quits.
Daniel will face Denis Shapovalov as he takes on the World No25 in his first-ever match in round 2 in Melbourne.
More from Tennis365:
Latest
-
News
Novak Djokovic hits back at allegations of being ‘selfish, difficult and ungrateful’
Djokovic says he finds it tough to be ‘a mere onlooker’.
-
Australian Open
Australian Open boss defends ‘better deal’ for the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams
Big-name players self-isolating in Adelaide.
-
ATP Tour
Rotterdam Open boss reveals delight as ‘one of his all-time favourite players’ Rafael Nadal joins field
Rafael Nadal will return to Rotterdam.
-
Australian Open
Roberto Bautista Agut says quotes comparing quarantine to ‘jail, but with WiFi’ was ‘taken out of context’
Roberto Bautista Agut issues an apology.
-
News
More coronavirus cases linked to arrivals for Australian Open
Australian Open boss said the safety of the Victorian community will not be compromised.
-
Tennis News
Big boost for LTA’s innovation drive as it signs deal with UK distributor of the Slinger Bag
LTA signs deal with Framework Sports & Marketing Ltd.
-
Australian Open
Australian Open chief defends Novak Djokovic over quarantine note, saying ‘they were suggestions’
Craig Tiley jumps to Novak Djokovic’s defence.
-
News
Quarantine remains in place for 72 players ahead of Australian Open
Two Covid-19 cases have been deemed viral shedding.
-
Kevin Palmer
EXCLUSIVE – British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith recalls sitting next to Judy Murray as her son won Wimbledon
We talk to Leon Smith about his coaching journey.
-
Australian Open
Australian Open tension boiling over as players, pundits, ex-pros, fans involved in social media spats
It’s all kicking off on social media.