Australian Open day one review

Sloane Stephens of the US lost to Zhang Shuai of China at the Australian Open. (REUTERS)
Updated 15 January 2018
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Australian Open day one review

Arab News takes a look at how all the other big names did on day one in Melbourne — who lived to fight another day and who has already been forced to pack their bags?

GREGOR DIMITROV (3) STAYING: Many are predicting this could be the tournament which sees the Bulgarian make his Grand Slam breakthrough. He started the event well enough with a simple 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Australian qualifier Dennis Novak. Not a bad way to get your title tilt started.

NICK KYRGIOS (17) STAYING: The Aussie ace has been in good form recently and kept the outbursts, for which he in famous, to a minimum. Has all the ability in the world and that was evident during his easy 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 rout of Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva.

MARIN CILIC (6) STAYING: The big-serving Croatian had a bit of work to do as needed four sets to see off Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospil 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6. He has one Grand Slam to his name (the US Open in 2014) but will need to improve if he is to have a chance of adding a second here.

ELINA SVITOLINA (4) STAYING: One of the favorites to win in Melbourne and while any likelihood of he lifting the trophy is hard to gauge from her 6-3, 6-2 win over qualifier Ivan Jorovic, the Ukrainian certainly looked to be in fine form.

JELENA OSTAPENKO (7) STAYING: The French Open winner was a big name not to fall at the first hurdle, she easily beat Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-4 on the Rod Laver Arena. The Latvian is definitely one to watch.

KEVIN ANDERSON (11) PACKING HIS BAGS: The big-hitting South African’s last Grand Slam match was the US Open final, however, that counted for little as the 11th seed was given his marching orders by world No. 49 Kyle Edmund, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6 6-3, 6-4.

SLOANE STEPHENS (13) PACKING HER BAGS: The US Open champion had a match to forget as she was sensationally dumped out of the tournament by China’s world No. 34 Zhang Shuai. The American lost 2-6 7-6, 6-2 in one hour and 58 minutes in Melbourne.

COCO VANDEWEGHE (10) PACKING HER BAGS: Last year saw the American go from strength to strength and talked about as a future Grand Slam champion. She will not, however, land that first major in Melbourne as she was shocked Timea Babos 7-6, 6-2. The math will be remember for Vandeweghe’s outburst over a shortage of bananas — all in all it was a bad day for the American.

DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA (24) PACKING HER BAGS: The 2014 Australian Open finalist lost to Kaia Kanep. The Slovak endured a poor 2017 and here year got off to the worst possible start with this first-round exit in Melbourne, losing 6-2, 6-2.


Barcelona blitz Athletic Bilbao 5-0 to book place in Super Cup final

Updated 08 January 2026
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Barcelona blitz Athletic Bilbao 5-0 to book place in Super Cup final

  • Catalans turn uncertainty into complete control with breathtaking 16-minute spell that saw them race into a four-goal lead before the interval
  • Raphinha struck again early in the second half, once more exploiting space down the flanks to extend the lead to 5-0

JEDDAH: It did not look like the easiest opening 20 minutes for Barcelona in Jeddah during their encounter with Athletic Bilbao. Yet in a breathtaking 16-minute spell, the Catalans turned uncertainty into complete control, racing into a four-goal lead before the interval.

More than 50,000 fans packed the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah to witness the spectacle, although the likes of Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal were rested, allowing opportunities for youngsters like Roony Bardghji and Fermin Lopez.

Lopez would emerge as one of the standout performers of the night. While his threat inside the box was evident, it was his creativity that truly shone in front of the Jeddawi crowd.

Barcelona broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute. A sweeping move from side to side ended with Raphinha finding Bardghji on the right, whose cutback was met by Lopez before being laid off for Ferran Torres to finish calmly for 1-0.

Just eight minutes later, an exquisite backheel from Pedri released Raphinha down the left flank once again, with his low cross this time finding Lopez to double Barcelona’s advantage.

Lopez contributed to his third goal of the night minutes later, this time slipping Bardghji down the right. The Kuwaiti-born winger skipped past Adama Boiro before striking at goal, with Unai Simon mishandling the ball as it trickled over the line.

The Blaugrana showed no signs of slowing down. Raphina finally got on the scoresheet in emphatic fashion with a belter into the top corner in the 38th minute.

To the surprise of many, neither side made any changes at the break. That decision quickly proved costly for Bilbao, as Raphinha struck again early in the second half, once more exploiting space down the flanks to extend the lead to 5-0.

With the contest beyond reach, Athletic head coach Ernesto Valverde rang the changes, making five substitutions to give minutes to his squad.

Barcelona, meanwhile, eased off to conserve energy ahead of Sunday’s final. To the delight of the crowd, both Rashford and Yamal were introduced, with Yamal receiving a warm standing ovation upon his entrance in the 72nd minute.

The emphatic victory marks Barcelona’s second consecutive five-goal display in the Spanish Super Cup, following last year’s 5-2 triumph over Real Madrid in the final.

The second semi-final takes place on Thursday, as Real Madrid face Atlético Madrid, with the winner set to meet Barcelona in Sunday’s final.