What a Week 1 at the Australian Open

Media outlets around the world were probably ready to roll with these headlines after the first week of the Australian Open came to an end:

“DJOKOVIC BREEZES THROUGH WEEK 1”

“FEDERER, STILL SHOWING RUST, FALLS EARLY”

Well, so much for that.

It was a wild first week Down Under. As the second week at the year’s first Slam gets under way, here’s a look at some of the memorable moments of the tournament’s start.

By week's end, both No. 1 seeds were stunned by unseeded players. First on Sunday, Andy Murray was felled by a relatively unknown member of the Zverev family, world No. 50 Mischa. Then, the always entertaining CoCo Vandeweghe swept past defending champion Angelique Kerber for her first Australian Open quarterfinal. The title is up for grabs now.

After 16 minutes, it was evident this wasn’t going to be an average second-round match for six-time champion Novak Djokovic. He won a 16-minute opening game against Denis Istomin and the pair had a joke about it at the changeover. Hours later, the whole complexion of the tournament changed as Istomin came away with the major upset.

There’s nothing like a little battle early on to get your feet wet—even though Lucie Safarova probably wished she wasn’t tested to such an extreme. She rallied for a three-set win in the first round against Yanina Wickmayer after saving nine—yes, nine—match points.

With more points and money on the line, every Grand Slam match has an increased level of stress attached to it. Case in point: Fabio Fognini earned a break point as Benoit Paire served for the match in the fifth set of their second-round encounter. In the rally, Paire got a little lucky when a net cord went in his favor. Any player could relate to how Fognini felt, and Paire—who went on to win the game and match—tried to offer some consolation.

Alone. Afraid. Defenseless. And then your greatest fear happens: You’re hit in the most sensitive of spots by a ball launched from the forehand of the fourth-ranked player in the world, Stan Wawrinka. Pity poor Martin Klizan.

Serena Williams had no patience for a reporter’s statement that cast doubts on her performance after a win, especially one in which she defeats former Grand Slam finalist Lucie Safarova in straight sets.

OK, beating Jurgen Melzer and Noah Rubin with only the loss of one set in your first official tournament in months is one thing. But to absolutely thrash world No. 10 Tomas Berdych in less than two hours? It’s like the late aughts all over again. Roger Federer then outlasted fifth seed Kei Nishikori in five sets. He has put on an impressive display in the first week, and with Murray and Djokovic out, has a clear shot at the title.

After her first-round victory, Venus Williams revealed the secret to her success—even when it comes to handling opponents that were born the year she turned to pro.

Try as he might, Nick Kyrgios cannot pass up a tweener. Even when his opponent’s serving for the match in a battle that got out of his grasp. Andreas Seppi came back to win the second-round match in five sets, and Kyrgios’ loss sent a wave of his attention his way.

Too bad he won’t be around the second week to liven it up.