Bruno Soares, Bia Haddad move forward in Australian Open doubles

The doubles of Bruno Soares, from Minas Gerais, and São Paulo’s Bia Haddad won in their opening matches, bagging a spot in the second round of the Australia Open, in Melbourne. In the early hours of Wednesday (Jan. 19), Soares and UK Jamie Murray effortlessly defeated Australian James Duckworth and Marc Polmans 2-0 (6/3, 6/2). In the morning, in turn, Haddad and Kazakhstani Anna Danilina beat the partners Anna Bondar (Hungary) and Oksana Kalashnikova (Georgia), also 2-0 (with a double 6/4).

Bia Haddad’s pace is not expected to slacken anytime soon. She heads back for the court tonight (19) at 9 pm (Brasília time) to face Romanian Simone Halep, in the singles bracket, the second round. It will be a showdown for the São Paulo athlete, ranked 83rd on the global ranking, against the world’s former number one, currently 15th on WTA’s list.

Also starting at 9 pm is the opening match of duo Marcelo Melo, from Minas Gerais state, and Croatian Ivan Dodig. They are to face the pairing Hugo Nys (Monaco) and Adrian Mannarino (France).

Goodbye, Melbourne

The Brazilian pairing formed by Felipe Meligeni and Rafael Matos bid farewell to Grand Slam by losing in their first match last night (18). The victors were Italian Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini, 2-0 (double 6/4).