Australian Open first round results

15 January, 2013

The first grand slam of the year, Australian Open, started yesterday, and some top players were in action in both the men's and the women's singles event. The first day witnessed top seeds such as Novak Djokovic, David Ferrer,Tomas Berdych, Janko Tipsarevic, and Stanislas Wawrinka in the men's draw - and all of then won their matches.

AS FAR as the women were concerned, Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Marion Bartoli, and Ana Ivanovic moved into the second round of the competition. Most of these players were expected to progress into the next round. Janko Tipsarevic's match with Lleyton Hewitt was the main attraction of the first day, which saw the home player Hewitt losing the match in staright sets with the score reading 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 and 6-3.

Djokivic, Ferrer, and Berdych showed their class by winning their respective matches in straight sets as well. But not all top seeds had an easy outing with players such as Marcos Baghdatis, Nicolas Almagro, Mikhail Youzhny matches stretched to five sets.

In the women's category, it was Maria Sharapova who stole the show with her amazing display where she not even lose a single game defeating Olga Puchkova with the score reading 6-0 and 6-0. Venus Williams was also not far behind as she defeated her opponent, Galina Voskoboeva – 6-1 and 6-0. Li Na, Samantha Stosur, Agnieszka Radwanska were also on top of their game with straight set victory over their opponents. If one has to spot any major shock on the first day, it has to be the defeat of the 32 seeded player, Mona Barthel who lost to an useeded player, Ksenia Pervak, else the first day went off smoothly without any big upsets.

The second day is expected to be an easy outing for other top players. Some players have already won their matches as well, earlier today. Roger Federer defeated B. Paire with the score reading 6-2, 6-4 and 6-1 and another favourite Andy Murray also defeated R. Hasse in staright sets. Serena Williams also defeated her first opponent of the grand slam, Edina Gallovits-Hall. Other interesting fixtures that are lined up for today - Del Potro clash with Frenchman, Adrian Mannarino, Caroline Wozniacki vs. Sabine Lisicki, Alexandr Dolgopolov vs Gael Monfils, just to list down a few matches that would grab more eye-balls.