Serena swats doubts, Bencic aside to reach second round
Melbourne: Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic began his quest for a record seventh Australian Open title with an easy win against Spaniard Fernando Verdasco while Rafael Nadal began with a convincing victory over German Florian Mayer here on Tuesday.
World No.2 Djokovic won 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-2 in two hours and 20 minutes to advance to the second round. Ninth-seeded Spaniard Nadal defeated his No.49 rival 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and four minutes.
He easily avoided the embarrassment of a back-to-back first round exits at the Australian Open on Tuesday.
The 2009 champion, seeded ninth after a disappointing injury-disrupted 2016 season, grasped his chances ruthlessly to overcome the German in a little over two hours in the brutal afternoon heat at Melbourne Park.
A single break in each of the first two sets followed by some dominant serving was enough to give him a comfortable lead going into the third, which the Spaniard wrapped up with a 25th sizzling forehand winner.
The 14-times grand slam champion, who was watched by new coach Carlos Moya, moves on to a second round clash with Cyprus’s former Melbourne Park finalist Marcos Baghdatis.
Nadal, who won the Australian Open in 2009, erased any bad memories of his first round defeat last year against compatriot Fernando Verdasco.
Nadal will play the next round against Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who defeated Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 3-0 after the Russian’s withdrawal due to respiratory problems.
Djokovic will play the second round against the winner of the match between Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin and Croatian Ivan Dodig. Spain’s David Ferrer beat Australian Omar Jasika in the first round.
Ferrer, 21st seed, defeated World No.290, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 in 86 minutes.
The Spaniard will next face the winner between Russian Danill Medveded and America’s Ernesto Escobedo.
Ferrer, a semi-finalist in 2011 and 2013, is celebrating his 15th appearance at the Australian Open this year. Earlier on Tuesday, Spanish tennis player Roberto Bautista defeated Guido Pella of Argentina.
The 13th-seeded Spanish player won 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 in 84 minutes.
The Spaniard has reached the second round of this tournament twice and recently won the fifth title of his career in Chennai.
Bautista will now play in the second round against Japanese player Yoshihito Nishioka, who defeated Australian Alex Bolt 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams launched her bid for a 23rd grand slam title with a 6-4 6-3 win over Belinda Bencic at the Australian Open on Tuesday, swatting aside doubts over her fitness and motivation on a sweltering day at Melbourne Park.
The 35-year-old American came into the tie with two matches under her belt since the U.S. Open last September but moved superbly under a hot sun at Rod Laver Arena to rout the Swiss talent in 79 minutes.
Kept honest for most of the first set, Williams ramped up the pressure at 4-4 to win seven straight games before Bencic stalled her victory charge with a late rally.
Williams wobbled with a double-fault on match point but smashed a volley on her second to close it out and set up a second round clash against Czech Lucie Safarova. (Agencies)