Former champions Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer enjoyed safe passages to round two of the Australian Open.
Nadal’s potentially tricky test against Bernard Tomic ended when Tomic retired a set down, while Federer swept James Duckworth aside in straight sets.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin Del Potro also made the second round, but 13th seed John Isner went out. On a day when temperatures reached 42C, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki also went through. Rod Laver Arena Azarenka (Blr) [2] beat Larsson (Swe) 7-6 6-2
Azarenka’s quest to become the first woman since Martina Hingis (1997-99) to win three consecutive Australian Open titles began slowly as she struggled against world number 91 Larsson. Larsson twice served for the first set but, after squandering opportunities at 5-4 and then 6-5, the Swede was punished as the second seed stepped up a level, winning the tie-break before breaking in the third game of the second set to assume complete control. “It was a tough first set,” said Azarenka. “The first match can often be tricky and the weather was not helping. It was important to win that first set and I really found my rhythm in the second set.” Federer (Swi) [6] beat Duckworth (Aus) 6-4 6-4 6-2 Federer, chasing a fifth Australian Open title, broke Duckworth once in each of the first two sets to take the sting out of any challenge from the 21-year-old, before easing through the third set despite the heat. It was the sixth seed’s first competitive match since six-time Grand Slam champion Stefan Edberg joined his coaching set-up. “It’s great fun to be playing in front of him and it’s been a dream come true for me,” Federer said. “I used to watch his matches and get inspired to play this great game, so to have him in my corner through the year and this tournament is very special and I can’t be thankful enough.” Seppi (Ita) [24] beat Hewitt (Aus) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 5-7 5-7 7-5 Lleyton Hewitt arrived for his 15th Australian Open with high hopes after beating Federer to win the warm-up tournament in Brisbane. The 32-year-old did manage to equal Andre Agassi’s Open era record of 41 career five-set matches, but it was only in defeat. “Every Grand Slam loss is tough,” said the former world number one. “There’s no easy ones you know, obviously if you come close to winning. Even though it’s a first -round match, it’s still frustrating.” Nadal (Spa) [1] beat Tomic (Aus) 6-4 ret Nadal had been handed a tough draw against Australian Tomic, the world number 57 who was once as high as 27. However, after taking the first set 6-4, Nadal was granted a path to the second round when Tomic retired to boos from some sections of the crowd. “I felt really sorry for Bernard,” said Nadal, who retired from his 2011 Australian Open quarter-final against David Ferrer. “I was in that situation a few years ago and I know how tough is to take that decision.” Tomic, who reached the fourth round two years ago, said: “This opportunity I had to play against Rafa was huge for me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t compete. It was very difficult for me to say sorry to the crowd.”
Sharapova (Rus) [3] beat Mattek-Sands (US) 6-3 6-4 Sharapova was playing her first Grand Slam match since Wimbledon, having missed the US Open with shoulder problems that brought an early end to her season. The Russian led 4-0 but Mattek-Sands, who as usual stood out from the crowd with her purple hair and knee-length black socks, scrapped all the way to the finish. -BBC
