Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev advance into Australian Open second round

The last year's Australian Open finalist and semi-finalist Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev are through to the second round in Melbourne following wins over Michail Kukushkin and Marcos Giron.

World no. 3 Thiem ousted Kukushkin 7-6, 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and 40 minutes, losing serve three times and delivering seven breaks from 20 opportunities to move over the top and make a winning start. Thiem had 29 winners and 27 unforced errors, struggling a bit to find the opener's rhythm and shifting into a higher level after that to bring the victory home in straight sets.

They traded breaks in games six and seven before Kukushkin grabbed another at 5-5 to serve for the first set. Thiem saved a set point in that 12th game and broke back to reach the tie break, winning it 7-2 and never looking back. From 2-0 down in set number two, the Austrian rattled off six straight games to storm over the opponent and take it 6-2. Dominic moved over the top with a double break in the third set, relieved for passing the first obstacle in straight sets.

Alexander Zverev needed two hours and 42 minutes to pass Marcos Giron 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2. Zverev hit 16 aces and four doubles faults, losing serve twice and securing six breaks from 15 opportunities to control the scoreboard in sets three and four and avoid spending more time on the court. Giron came from 4-2 down in the opening set and saved a set point in the tie break to claim it 10-8.

The German served for the second set at 5-3 before suffering a break that could have cost him dearly. Marcos was three points away from taking two sets to love lead, but it wasn't to be for him, as Zverev won the breaker 7-5 to level the overall score. The German had momentum on his side and used it nicely in sets three and four to cross the finish line first and advance into the second round.