Australian Open Day 2 Late Roundup: Kuznetsova, Ostapenko move on

MELBOURNE, Australia - With 96 matches originally scheduled for Day 3 of the Australian Open, play extended deep into the evening across the grounds, with the late-night vibe highlighted by former World No.2 Svetlana Kuznetsova delivering a classic battling performance to upset No.15 seed Marketa Vondrousova
The Russian, who reached the quarterfinals here in 2005, 2009 and 2013, struck 37 winners against the Roland Garros finalist. Vondrousova, who is playing only her second tournament back after a six-month hiatus due to wrist surgery, but who made a strong start to her comeback by reaching the Adelaide quarterfinals last week, got off to a slow start: 16 unforced errors in the opening set alone betrayed her rust, and the 20-year-old did not hold serve until the third game of the second set.
Welcome back Svetlana 🇷🇺
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2020
After two years away, @SvetlanaK27 upsets 15th seed Marketa VondrousovaView Profile 6-2 4-6 6-4 to advance to the #AusOpen second round for the 14th time.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/hrzcaJIqIs
Vondrousova would improve as the match went on, playing her role in a high-quality third set, and showed commendable fighting qualities to level the match at a set all and twice get the decider back on serve after falling behind a break. But Kuznetsova's all-court form was irresistible, and she concluded the match in fine, athletic style, chasing down consecutive dropshots to break the Czech and wrap up the win after one hour and 52 minutes.
Elsewhere, former World No.5 Jelena Ostapenko
In her match today, @JelenaOstapenk8 overtook Ash Barty to lead the women's aces total with 11.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2020
We still raising money for every ace. You can help #Aces4BushfireRelief 👉 https://t.co/bffi4DbAVO#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/a6qP1uh4c1
Ostapenko was particularly impressive on serve, slamming down 11 aces to only three double faults and saving all five break points she faced - four of which came in the opening game of the match alone - and closing out the match with consecutive love holds as she overpowered the Russian with 27 winners to 22 unforced errors to set up a mouthwatering second-round matchup against erstwhile junior rival, No.6 seed Belinda Bencic
No.20 seed Karolina Muchova
.@karomuchova7 keeps the Czech flag flying! 🇨🇿
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2020
The 20th seed is through to the second round, overcoming a spirited Flipkens 6-3 2-6 7-6[10-7]#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/VbsaRCI4Z8
No.26 seed Danielle Collins
Meanwhile, Laura Siegemund
💪 @PutintsevaYulia is pleased as punch to be through to the second round!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2020
She def. Hsieh 6-1 6-3 and will face the winner of Collins-Diatchenko #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/dOX3jtzb2D
In a match circled by many connoisseurs as soon as the qualifiers were placed, former World No.11 Alizé Cornet overcame qualifier Monica Niculescu 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 in a contest of idiosyncratic shotmaking and sudden momentum shifts. Niculescu, with her trademark forehand slice carving up the court, would take the first set despite almost squandering a 5-1 lead - but the Frenchwoman, undaunted, took control thereafter as the former World No.28 faded. Yulia Putintseva
There were contrasting fortunes for the two lowest-ranked players in the draw, both still in the early stages of very different comebacks. Former World No.35 Catherine Bellis, playing the fourth tournament of her return from four wrist surgeries and now ranked World No.600, posted her first Grand Slam win since her career-best third-round run at Roland Garros 2017 with a 52-minute 6-0, 6-2 dismissal of Tatjana Maria