MELBOURNE: Serena Williams refused to let a painful tumble divert her from her quest for a sixth Australian Open title on Tuesday as Roger Federer and Andy Murray progressed almost untroubled towards their goals on day two here.
Williams picked herself up to complete a resounding 6-0, 6-0 victory over Edina Gallovits-Hall, a ruthless dominance that world number one and defending champion Victoria Azarenka was unable to replicate as she progressed to the second round.
Swiss Federer beat Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 to embark on his campaign for an 18th major title after Briton Murray’s 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Robin Haase.
There is no bigger personality in tennis than Williams, who is chasing a third successive grand slam title after wins at Wimbledon and the US Open, and the American almost inevitably hogged the spotlight.
Rampaging towards victory, the 31-year-old turned her ankle after hitting a forehand and lay prone on the court for a couple of dramatic minutes – immediately recalling her fall at Brisbane last year that ultimately ended her 2012 Melbourne campaign.
“It was definitely a lot of pain,” she said. “Also a little bit of the memory, as well. So it was definitely a little bit of both. But also at the same time trying to gather myself together and trying to make sure that I can continue.”
Federer, four times a champion in Melbourne, easily negotiated young French shotmaker Paire.
“I’m obviously very happy with this first-round match, so total control,” he said. “He can be a tricky opponent but I guess his playing style doesn’t disturb me that much overall.”
Federer remained on a third-round collision course with Australian Bernard Tomic, who delighted the home crowd with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 win over Argentine Leonardo Mayer.
Women’s top seed Azarenka was forced to come back from 3-0 down in the second set in her 6-1, 6-4 victory over Romania’s Monica Niculescu.
Women’s seventh seed Sara Errani and 12th ranked Nadia Petrova departed in quick succession.
While Errani’s 6-4, 6-4 loss to Carla Suarez Navarro was not a huge shock, 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm’s 6-2, 6-0 victory over Petrova earned her a place in the record books as the oldest winner of a women’s singles match at the tournament.
The upsets remained thin on the ground in the men’s draw with top 10 players Juan Martin del Potro, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet all easing into the second round.
Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki battled back from a set down to beat Sabine Lisicki 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. (Reuters)
