Big guns firing

MELBOURNE, January 15 

Serena Williams made a ruthless start to her quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title with a 6-0 6-2 victory over unseeded German Tatjana Maria in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday. Playing her first Grand Slam since her infamous rant against the umpire at last year’s US Open final, the 37-year-old Williams seemed to have decided to move on from last September’s incident that caused a furore across the world.

At her post-match news conference, Williams refused to be drawn in. “I, like, literally have no comment,” Williams, wearing a black T-shirt with the message ‘Until We All Win’, said.

She has kept a low profile in Melbourne and did not appear before the media before the start of the tournament but was enthusiastic to talk about topics more softer, like how her daughter’s black doll was named Qai Qai.

“Spending a lot of time with my daughter. I think that’s the priority for me. And I feel like literally every moment I get I practise, and then I go home,” she said.

Djokovic shines

Top seed Novak Djokovic looked every inch the favourite as he kicked off his bid for a record seventh title at Melbourne Park with an emphatic 6-3 6-2 6-2 win over American qualifier Mitchell Krueger.

Soaking up the Rod Laver Arena limelight, the Serb moved superbly in his opener and hit 42 winners to wrap up the one-sided clash in little more than two hours.

Djokovic bowed out of the fourth round of last year’s tournament bothered by a painful elbow injury but successfully came back from surgery to win Wimbledon and the US Open. Now free from fitness problems, the 31-year-old Serb is savouring his return to a tournament he has virtually owned for the last decade. “It feels great to be healthy and back on this court again,” Djokovic said. — Reuters

Day 2: highs and lows 

In control

Fourth seed Naomi Osaka produced a clinical display to beat Poland’s Magda Linette 6-4 6-2 in 58 minutes. The reigning US Open champion struck 30 winners to 16 unforced errors in a measured performance.

Pushed

Venus Williams was made to work hard in her opener against Romanian 25th seed Mihaela Buzarnescu but the 2017 runner-up switched gears in the decider to secure a 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-2 victory.

Former champ slips

Twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, ranked 52 in the world, began her match against Laura Siegemund strongly but could not quell the determined German who prevailed 6-7(5) 6-4 6-2.

Kei to SURVIVAL

Kamil Majchrzak had eighth seed Kei Nishikori on the ropes with a two-set lead before severe cramps in his left quadricep and right hand forced him to eventually retire from the contest. With Majchrzak’s movement restricted, Nishikori levelled the match at two sets each and went ahead in the decider before the Polish qualifier retired with the score at 6-3 7-6(6) 0-6 2-6 0-3.

OFF TO FLYER

ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev stamped his authority as one of the main contenders, thumping Aljaz Bedene 6-4 6-1 6-4. 

TOO GOOD

Garbine Muguruza defeated China’s Zheng Saisai 6-2 6-3 in 75 minutes. Muguruza, who has slipped to number 18 in the rankings after an inconsistent 2018, meets Johanna Konta in the second round after the Briton overcame local hope Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6(4) 2-6 7-6(7).

Beating qualifiers

Karolina Pliskova eased past Czech compatriot Karolina Muchova 6-3 6-2 in 69 minutes to improve her record against qualifiers at all Majors to 5-1. “I would say I’m lucky because I’m always playing them at every tournament, so I’m happy that I’m through,”Pliskova said.  

KEYS unlocks Destanee

American 17th seed Madison Keys, a 2015 semifinalist, began her campaign with an easy 6-2 6-2 victory over Australian wildcard Destanee Aiava.

FIVE-SET THRILLER

Seventh seed Dominic Thiem survived an opening round scare as he overcame Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-4 6-3 5-7 1-6 6-3 in a late-night thriller, which concluded past 2am local time. “It’s a very special scene here at a Grand Slam in such a nice stadium... and that’s worth to fight it,” Thiem said. “Thanks (to the crowd) for staying out so late.”

Injury trouble

An injury-hampered Nick Kyrgios crashed out of the first round with a 6-4 7-6(5) 6-4 thrashing at the hands of Milos Raonic. Kyrgios suffered his earliest exit from Melbourne Park. The 52nd-ranked player spent much of the night muttering expletives about the condition of his right knee and had a trainer working on the injury between sets.

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‘Serena-tard’ debuts

Serena Williams unveiled her latest fashion statement at the Australian Open on Tuesday, and helpfully ended any confusion about what to call the striking garment. Some suggested it was a onesie, others said it resembled a romper suit, but for the item’s famous creator there could be only one name. “It’s a Serena-tard,” Williams told reporters when quizzed about her latest look. Made of jade-green lycra with a black-and-white waistband, the skin-tight outfit looks like a pair of disco-era hotpants attached to a builder’s singlet. Williams matched it with fishnet stockings, which she explained were a health measure designed to avoid deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). Williams almost died in 2017 when blood clots formed in her lungs after she gave birth to her first child, daughter Olympia. She said she still lived in fear of the condition returning and wore compression tights to help stop clots forming. Williams is renowned for her on-court outfits, including a body-hugging black catsuit at last year’s French Open that caused controversy when organisers said she would not be able to wear it this year. AFP

HALEP’s revenge 

World No.1 Simona Halep came back from a set down to beat Kaia Kanepi 6-7(2) 6-4 6-2, avenging her US Open opening round defeat by the Estonian veteran last year.