Five talking points from day two of the Australian Open 

It has been a bumpy ride up to here, but finally the Australian Open is properly underway.

On day two, there was good news for the British players as Heather Watson advanced into round two while there were also victories for defending champion Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff and Spain‘s Rafael Nadal.

Here, Sportsmail wraps up the biggest talking points on day two. 

Coco Gauff salutes the crowd as she returned to Melbourne a year after bursting on the scene

Melbourne wakes up

What a difference a day makes. Gone was the cold and misery of Monday as a 7am walk in the centre of Melbourne showed a whole new face to the city of almost five million people.

Each visit reveals a construction boom to outpace even the lead-in to the London Olympics and today the skyscrapers glistened against a sunny, blue sky in line with the traditional tourist image of Australia.

There was a spring in the step of tennis officials and spectators too and while crowds were still small, they were well up on day one and the buzz of a grand slam was back.

Garden Square, the Henman Hill equivalent where the masses can sit on deck chairs to catch the action on a giant screen, was busy once more and the outside concessions had customers happy to sit and eat rather than scuttle by. Spectators meanwhile were keen to snap up the offers of free sun lotion from sponsors, a sight unseen yesterday. And they needed it, there was not a cloud in sight with temperatures in the 30s forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.

There was a bigger buzz around the Australian Open on the second day of the tournament

There was a bigger buzz around the Australian Open on the second day of the tournament

Heather Watson Wins

A spasm in her left leg four days ago that stopped her practising raised the possibility that former British No 1 Heather Watson might not make her tie against long time foe Kristyna Pliskova. 

‘I was really worried about if I was going to be able to play my first round here. Also, I don’t get injured so it was a surprise,’ she said. 

Watson scored an impressive victory on court 10 which is unshaded and lined with just two rows of seats for spectators with passing fans a constant and noisy accompaniment. 

The atmosphere though was vibrant in her 107 minute defeat of the six foot tall Pliskova who she saw off at the same stage of the tournament last year. An aggressive stance in the second tie-break saw Watson through 7-6, 7-6, albeit she won just two more points than her Czech opponent overall. Watson was one of 72 unfortunate players and their entourages compelled to spend two weeks in hard quarantine. 

British No 1 Heather Watson won her opener but struggled with a leg spasm last week

British No 1 Heather Watson won her opener but struggled with a leg spasm last week

The lack of physical freedoms, or even a hotel window that opened, made her victory even sweeter she said. 

‘We’d been through a lot the last few weeks. It was really tough mentally the most. Physically I felt like I did a pretty good job in hard quarantine of working out pretty much every day and trying to keep up my fitness.’

It was the little things that she missed most in quarantine she said. ‘We couldn’t wait to get fresh air. Every time I’m in the car now on the way to Melbourne Park or back to the hotel, I always make sure I open the window just to have fresh air.’ 

She is yet to truly embrace the freedoms of Melbourne however. ‘The most I’ve done is have dinner across the road yesterday. We went to a place called Hunky Dory, a fish restaurant and it was really nice.’

Emotional Victory for Sofia Kenin

Defending champion Sofia Kenin had tears in her eyes as she overcame Australia’s Maddison Inglis in her first match on Rod Laver Arena since clinching the Daphne Akhurst Trophy 12 months ago.

Her emotions were all over the place said the 22-year-old American who was taken to two close sets by the 133 world ranked Inglis.

‘When she’s playing, she’s playing the defending champion, so of course she’s more loose. I obviously am tight. I wasn’t there 100 per cent mentally,’ said the number four seed Kenin.

Defending champion Sofia Kenin settled her nerves with an opening win over Maddison Inglis

Defending champion Sofia Kenin settled her nerves with an opening win over Maddison Inglis

‘I get nervous before every match. I guess here is a little bit more, memories and everything.’

Letting off steam before playing is key said Kenin who muttered to herself and glanced up continually at her father Alex in the front row during a tight first set.

‘Towards the end, you could see I got a little bit emotional as well. Standing at the net, okay (I was thinking) don’t cry. My eyes were wet obviously.’

About 1000 people turned up to watch Kenin in an arena with a 15,000 capacity for the 11am start but the mood was upbeat and the effervescent Kenin seem thrilled with her win.

Coco Gauff Makes Her Return 

Just one match in and the sensation of the Open 12 months ago when she knocked out defending champion Naomi Osaka, is once more endearing herself to the home fans. 

Teenager Coco Gauff overpowered Switzerland’s Jil Tecihmann for the second time in a week and was quick to praise her surroundings. John Cain Arena, stuck on the outer boundaries of Melbourne Park is her favourite court in Australia said Gauff. 

‘I know the stands are not as full with everything else going on in the world but I am happy you came to see me,’ she told the crowd post match. 

Coco Gauff overpowered Switzerland's Jil Tecihmann for her round one triumph

Coco Gauff overpowered Switzerland’s Jil Tecihmann for her round one triumph

This was a simple explanation behind her fondness for a court she played on last year. 

‘I was told that this arena has a lot of younger people. I am 16, so it’s good to see some people in the crowd that’s around my age. That’s why I like it.’ And watching from her box was super coach Patrick Mouratoglou (advising her dad who doubles as her coach said Gauff) who is fast becoming the everywhere man of the tournament. 

The coach and confidant of Serena Williams in his prime day job, he has also been spotted practising with the Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas this week.

Rafael Nadal Through In Straight Sets

Ever the man of routine, Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal followed up his Monday morning practice on court 11 with another stint on the same patch today, and at roughly the same time. 

Among the practice session onlookers was Aussie coaching guru Darren Cahill, currently looking after world number two Simona Halep and the man behind much of Andre Agassi’s on court success.

Rafael Nadal dropped just eight games during his round one victory over Laslo Djere

Rafael Nadal dropped just eight games during his round one victory over Laslo Djere

Nadal’s fans are beginning to clock his schedule and every seat courtside was taken to watch him rocket his way through a session just three hours before taking to a sunlight bathed Rod Laver Arena for his first round match against Serbia’s Laslo Djere who he saw off for the loss of just eight games.

He has had some back issues and the goal of today was just to get through Nadal said.

‘Straight sets, that’s what I needed. Let’s go day by day.’