All fired up

Melbourne, January 16 

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams launched their Australian Open campaigns in style today.

Djokovic and Williams have both dropped to world No. 2 and faced awkward opposition, but they won in straight sets against Fernando Verdasco and Belinda Bencic, respectively. 

Rafael Nadal also rolled into Round 2.

Djokovic gave further evidence of his return to form as he convincingly saw off Verdasco 6-1 7-6(4) 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic fell off the top of the rankings during a sudden slump last year but he showed signs of a revival by beating new world No. 1 Andy Murray in this month’s Doha final. He fended off five match points against Verdasco in the Doha semis, and had to fight through a 71-minute second set against the Spanish left-hander for his win on Tuesday.

‘Nothing to lose’

It was Djokovic’s 15th straight win at the Australian Open as he seeks his third straight title and his seventh overall, which would break Roy Emerson’s record set in the 1960s.

“I’m very pleased with the first round, considering I had one of the toughest first-round draws, definitely considering his form, how well he played against me in Doha,” Djokovic said.

In afternoon play, Williams and Nadal made light of hot temperatures and doubts over their own form as they got off to sizzling starts.

Williams, back after an injury lay-off, demolished the dangerous Bencic 6-4 6-3, while Nadal was also impressive in his 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over Florian Mayer.

Williams has barely played since her shock defeat in the US Open semifinals in September and she made, by one count, 88 unforced errors in her second-round loss to Madison Brengle at this month’s Auckland Classic.

But she came through a tight first set against Bencic before dominating the second in what turned out to be an emphatic victory on the centre court.

The 35-year-old American, with a record 23rd Major title in her sights, was watched from courtside by her new fiance, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

“Right now I’ve got nothing to lose. Every match, every tournament I’m playing for fun,” she said.

Injury-hit Nadal had a torrid 2016, failing to reach any of the Grand Slam quarters, but he appeared rejuvenated under new coach and former world No. 1 Carlos Moya. 

Men’s world No. 3 Milos Raonic, a semifinalist last year, enjoyed an uncomplicated start to his campaign when he beat Dustin Brown 6-3 6-4 6-2. And German hotshot Alexander Zverev credited a racquet-smashing tantrum with sparking his revival as he came back to beat Robin Haase 6-2 3-6 5-7 6-3 6-2. — AFP

---

The early exit, the magician and the nervous fan

Stosur loses in first round at home Slam, again 

“Yeah, well, it’s just disappointing. You get a bit sick of this feeling. You’re disappointed, you’re upset, angry, what could I have done,” Samantha Stosur said after losing 6-3 3-6 6-0 to Heather Watson. Stosur had lost in Round 1 last year as well.

Haas ‘empty’ as comeback ends in withdrawal

Tommy Haas vowed to play on even though his first match since October 2015 ended with retirement after the second set. “I felt like physically I was empty. I didn’t have anything left in the tank, to be quite honest. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced it that way before in my career playing any matches. And it didn’t feel good. I just felt shortness of breath. Couldn’t really focus. That’s not a good thing.”

‘What men can, women can too’

Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska survived a dogfight to move into the second round. The third seed battled past Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 6-1 4-6 6-1. Nicknamed ‘The Magician’ for her shot-making, the Pole dug into her full box of tricks — including a brilliant, between-the-legs winner. “I’m watching a lot of men’s tennis and I just wanted to show that women can do it as well,” she said about the winner. 

Pliskova to recharge batteries with shopping therapy

“I always go to the club even, like, if I’m in the tournament, so there is day off, like, tomorrow. Maybe I play doubles or maybe I just hit one hour. Easy really just to rest for the next days. I like shopping, obviously, so I always go to the city. If there is a chance, some nice dinner and nice place to see in the city,” said fifth seed Karolina Pliskova after beating Sara Sorribes 6-2 6-0.

Off court, Wozniacki sets sights on Torres, Gyllenhaal

“Well, one would be Fernando Torres, the soccer player. I was always a big fan of his. That’s one of the only people I’ve ever gotten star-struck of,” Wozniacki, who beat Australia’s Arina Rodionova 6-1 6-2, said when asked whom she would like to get a selfie with. “I went to a Liverpool game once. They asked me if I wanted to meet him. I was, like, shaking. I completely blanked on that. So probably him. And then (actor) Jake Gyllenhaal.”