Rafael Nadal is out of the 2016 Australian Open losing his first round match to Fernando Verdasco in five sets. The match lasted over four hours and 40 minutes with Verdasco winning 7-6 4-6 3-6 7-6 6-2. This is Nadal first round exit at the Australian Open.
There was also a major shock in the women draw with the second seed Simona Halep being defeated in straight sets 6-4 6-3 by Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai, ranked 133rd in the world. This was Zhang first victory in a Grand Slam at her 15th attempt.
Local crowd favourite Leyton Hewitt tennis farewell will have to wait at least another two days after the Australian journeyman beat fellow countryman James Duckworth 7-6 6-2 6-4. Hewitt now faces eighth seed David Ferrer in round two.