Djokovic, Serena show no mercy as Azarenka romps

AFP21 Jan 2015 2:13 AM GMT
Eighteen-time Grand Slam winner Williams opened her Melbourne Park account with a decisive 6-0, 6-4 display against Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck, laying down the marker to her challengers. A sixth Australian Open title would take her to clear second on the Grand Slam Open Era winners list behind Steffi Graf’s 22, having joined Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on 18 with her win at the US Open last year.
“If I could get to 19 in Australia that would be beyond amazing, so we’ll see. I have a lot of work to do but I’m just going to enjoy myself,” said the American. Serbian top seed Djokovic, gunning for a fifth Australian title, also found his groove early against Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene to post a commanding 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win. “For a first round performance it was pretty good, obviously I still need to work on a few things, I’m still developing my game,” said Djokovic, who lost to Wawrinka in the quarter-finals last year.
The Swiss fourth seed went on to stun Rafael Nadal and win his maiden Grand Slam, and he is keen to repeat the heroics again this year. He got his title defence off to to a solid start with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 mauling of Turkey’s Marsel Ilhan, encountering few problems.
“It was great to be back on Rod Laver Arena again, it brings back so many memories from last year,” he said.
“It was such an amazing two weeks last year so it was great to come back here and I am pleased with my game in general and I’m excited to start again.”
Roger Federer, Nadal and Maria Sharapova all played Monday and easily progressed.
Nishikori, who lost to Marin Cilic in last year’s US Open final and is touted as a future major champion, showed his mettle to beat Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 7-6 (7/1), 6-2. The Spaniard is a former world number nine and the Japanese star said it was a good workout.
“Obviously, it was a really tough, tough first match. He could be seeded player, and I know he was injured, but still it was a tough match,” he said.
“If I could get to 19 in Australia that would be beyond amazing, so we’ll see. I have a lot of work to do but I’m just going to enjoy myself,” said the American. Serbian top seed Djokovic, gunning for a fifth Australian title, also found his groove early against Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene to post a commanding 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win. “For a first round performance it was pretty good, obviously I still need to work on a few things, I’m still developing my game,” said Djokovic, who lost to Wawrinka in the quarter-finals last year.
The Swiss fourth seed went on to stun Rafael Nadal and win his maiden Grand Slam, and he is keen to repeat the heroics again this year. He got his title defence off to to a solid start with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 mauling of Turkey’s Marsel Ilhan, encountering few problems.
“It was great to be back on Rod Laver Arena again, it brings back so many memories from last year,” he said.
“It was such an amazing two weeks last year so it was great to come back here and I am pleased with my game in general and I’m excited to start again.”
Roger Federer, Nadal and Maria Sharapova all played Monday and easily progressed.
Nishikori, who lost to Marin Cilic in last year’s US Open final and is touted as a future major champion, showed his mettle to beat Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 7-6 (7/1), 6-2. The Spaniard is a former world number nine and the Japanese star said it was a good workout.
“Obviously, it was a really tough, tough first match. He could be seeded player, and I know he was injured, but still it was a tough match,” he said.
Achieving any real growth impossible without inclusiveness:...
22 Aug 2019 6:17 PM GMTThank you!
1 May 2017 6:52 PM GMTNo Modi charisma in Haryana polls: Selja
8 Oct 2019 4:43 PM GMTFinding a new medium of expression
31 Aug 2019 1:38 PM GMTIntegrating India towards development
25 Oct 2017 3:32 PM GMT
Savarkar is nation's idol, no compromise on that: Shiv
14 Dec 2019 3:30 PM GMTMumbai resident loses Rs 6 lakh in online fraud, accused...
14 Dec 2019 2:18 PM GMT'Was never conventional'
14 Dec 2019 1:57 PM GMTRussia's tryst with wada
14 Dec 2019 1:53 PM GMTRelationships & Parenting
14 Dec 2019 1:51 PM GMT