Australian Open| Serena, Djokovic, Federer win openers
Tue Jan 19, 2016 02:29:pm Sports
4K By sosa hills
Serena Williams defeated Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-5 in the opening round of the Australian Open yesterday. It was Williams' first completed match since losing in the semifinals of the U.S. Open in September, and the women's top-ranked player showed no signs that her sore knee that led to the extended break is an issue.
Men's top seed Novak Djokovic defeated 19-year-old Hyeon Chung 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in Melbourne for his 21st consecutive straight-sets victory in an opening match at a Grand Slam.
No. 3 seeded Roger Federer surged through to the second round with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili in just 72 minutes.
Williams, who is one major title away from tying Steffi Graf's record of 22 Grand Slam victories, ended the 1 hour, 45 minute match with an ace down the middle, her ninth of the match.
"I haven't played a competitive match in a really long time," the American said, "but it was really good for me to come out here and get through it. It wasn't quick, but that actually worked to my advantage as well.
"I think I served well today. I think, you know, I got broken once, but other than that, I was able to stay focused on that part. And I was able to serve really well, and that really helped me."
Williams next plays Chinese Taipei's Hsieh SuWei, who recovered from a 3-6, 0-4 deficit against Jelena Ostapenko to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.
American Sloane Stephens was outplayed by Chinese qualifier Qiang Wang and lost 6-3, 6-3.
Caroline Wozniacki joined Stephens as surprise opening-round losers. The Dane, who reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2011, fell 1-6, 7-6 (3),
6-4 to 76th-ranked Yulia Putintseva.
Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova beat Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum 6-3, 6-1.
On the men's side, Djokovic is not giving in to the calendar-year Slam talk.
"It's only the beginning of the season," Djokovic said. "It's too early to talk about what I can or can't do later in the season. I'm here to focus on Australian Open. I think, as all the players taking part in this year's first Grand Slam, I would like to do the best as I can and fight for the trophy.
"2015 was the best season and best year of my life undoubtedly. I'll try to obviously carry that confidence and high level of performance that I've had, especially towards the end of the year, into the new season. If I am able to do the same or better, like 2015, I'm not sure. Honestly, as I said, it's just the beginning."
Men's top seed Novak Djokovic defeated 19-year-old Hyeon Chung 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in Melbourne for his 21st consecutive straight-sets victory in an opening match at a Grand Slam.
No. 3 seeded Roger Federer surged through to the second round with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili in just 72 minutes.
Williams, who is one major title away from tying Steffi Graf's record of 22 Grand Slam victories, ended the 1 hour, 45 minute match with an ace down the middle, her ninth of the match.
"I haven't played a competitive match in a really long time," the American said, "but it was really good for me to come out here and get through it. It wasn't quick, but that actually worked to my advantage as well.
"I think I served well today. I think, you know, I got broken once, but other than that, I was able to stay focused on that part. And I was able to serve really well, and that really helped me."
Williams next plays Chinese Taipei's Hsieh SuWei, who recovered from a 3-6, 0-4 deficit against Jelena Ostapenko to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.
American Sloane Stephens was outplayed by Chinese qualifier Qiang Wang and lost 6-3, 6-3.
Caroline Wozniacki joined Stephens as surprise opening-round losers. The Dane, who reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2011, fell 1-6, 7-6 (3),
6-4 to 76th-ranked Yulia Putintseva.
Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova beat Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum 6-3, 6-1.
On the men's side, Djokovic is not giving in to the calendar-year Slam talk.
"It's only the beginning of the season," Djokovic said. "It's too early to talk about what I can or can't do later in the season. I'm here to focus on Australian Open. I think, as all the players taking part in this year's first Grand Slam, I would like to do the best as I can and fight for the trophy.
"2015 was the best season and best year of my life undoubtedly. I'll try to obviously carry that confidence and high level of performance that I've had, especially towards the end of the year, into the new season. If I am able to do the same or better, like 2015, I'm not sure. Honestly, as I said, it's just the beginning."
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