MELBOURNE, Feb 8: It’s been so long since he had a sizeable crowd to play for, the showman in Novak Djokovic just had to come out. Top-ranked Djokovic has won eight titles at the Australian Open. He began his quest for a ninth with a clinical, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Jeremy Chardy in the closing act of the day 1 program on Rod Laver Arena.
Serena Williams, who arrived ready to race to start her bid for a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam singles title. In a colorful one-legged catsuit she said was inspired by former Olympic champion Florence Griffith Joyner, Williams dropped her opening serve but rebounded to win 10 consecutive games and beat Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-1.
Speed was of the essence also for No. 2-ranked Simona Halep and No. 3 Osaka, who each only dropped three games. U.S. Open champion Osaka beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 6-2, and two-time major winner Halep opened the night session on the main show court with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Australian wild-card entry Lizette Cabrera.
Joining them in the second round were No. 7 Aryna Sabalenka, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, French Open winner Iga Swiatek and 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu, who returned from 15 months on the sidelines to beat Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
Rebecca Marino, competing in a Grand Slam event for the first time in eight years, beat Kimberly Birrell 6-0, 7-6 (9). (AP)
