MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Three sets for rapid Novak Djokovic, two-wheeled bicycle for Maria Sharapova, a 6-1 6-0 Venus Williams Monday marked the opening of the Australian Open with one-seeded Juan Monaco (No. 11), is tombée.
even had an injured leg that tilts the Argentine 7-6 6-1 6-1 to Russian Andrey Kuznetsov, 79th player in the world, to the applause of the audience, admiring and grateful for his refusal 'abandonner.
Other seeded on the courts, the Spaniard David Ferrer (No. 4) and Czech Tomas Berdych (No. 5) that did not need three sets to beat Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-3 6 -4 6-2 and American Michael Russell 6-3 7-5 6-3.
Another Spaniard, Nicolas Almagro (No. 10), on the other hand struggled five sets to overcome the American Steve Johnson 7-5 6-7 (4) 6-2 6-7 (6) 6 - 2.
Novak Djokovic began his campaign effectively for a third consecutive title against the French Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2 6-4 spread 7-5.
As if to save energy, the World No. 1 Serbian has had to raise his level of play for two games when he faced three break points in the second set and when the third set seemed to have to go to tie-break.
Three aces helped him save his service at the first warning shots and two winners gave him the third set and the victory in one hour and 42 minutes.
"I think we played a good game. We have used both and I managed to play well when needed," said Novak Djokovic.
"The tournament lasts two weeks. This is the first day, everyone is excited and I am happy to be here."
The Serb will next opponent American Ryan Harrison, 20 year old ranked 62nd in the ATP .
SHARAPOVA IMPITOYABLE
The expected defeat Paul-Henri Mathieu did not prevent the French tennis live a beautiful day with the qualification of six of its representatives engaged in the tables gentlemen and ladies, with Marion Bartoli spearhead. (See)
The No. 1 French and seeded No. 11 dominated the Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-2 6-4.
The player of the day, however, was Maria Sharapova who inflicted a 6-0 6-0 in 55 minutes to her compatriot Olga Puchkova, it is true 107th player mondiale.
The Russian said she was pleased not to have suffered pain in the neck and collarbone which ruined his program préparation.
"I did not want to be disturbed by the fact that I have not played a lot of matches. I wanted to focus on the future and show me aggressive on the court," she dit.
"It was one of those games where I do not care about the opponent and stay focused on what I have to do."
The former World No. 1 next opponent will be Japan's Misaki Doi, winner of the Croatian Petra Martic 6-3 6-4.
Venus Williams, who is no longer part of the favorites to win the Grand Slam final was almost as expeditiously as the Russian. She left a game in the Kazakh Galina Voskoboeva.
"It's good to spend as little time as possible on the court and not get caught up in long sets. It is obvious," said the American, who ended nearly three years without any title with his victory in Luxembourg octobre.
Classified seeded No. 25 Venus Williams will meet in the next round the French Alize Cornet, who qualified at the price of a terrible battle against the New Zealander Marina Erakovic finally beaten 7-5 6-7 (3) 10-8.
Other contenders for the Polish Agnieszka Radwanska (No. 4) and Australian Samantha Stosur (No. 9) struggled in the first set but found the pace to beat the Australian Bojana Bobusic 7-5 6 - 0 and Taiwan's Chang Kai-Chen 7-6 (3) 6-3.
Jean-Paul Couret for service français
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