Tuesday, January 19, 2010
MELBOURNE: Serena Williams started the defense of her Australian Open title with a dominating 6-2, 6-1 win Tuesday over Polish teenager Urszula Radwanska.
Williams also only lost three games in her previous match at Melbourne Park: a 6-0, 6-3 win over now No. 2-ranked Dinara Safinain last year's final.
Despite having her right thigh heavily wrapped with a white bandage, Williams didn't show any signs of restricted movement.
The 28-year-old American hurt her left knee at the Sydney International last Friday night and later said she has been bothered by a foot problem.
On the men's side, sixth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko had a 6-1, 6-0,6-3 win over Dieter Kindlmann of Germany and No. 21 Tomas Berdych advanced 6-0, 6-3, 6-3 over Robin Haase of the Netherlands.
No. 9 Fernando Verdasco, who lost to fellow Spaniard and eventual champion Rafael Nadal in a five-set semifinal here last year that was the longest match in the tournament's history, had a 6-7 (4) 7-6(1), 7-5, 6-2 win over wild card entry Carsten Ball of Australia.
Fabrice Santoro extended his Grand Slam career into a fourth decade, but lasted just one match _ a 7-5, 7-5, 6-3 loss to14th-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia.
Ana Ivanovic, who reached the Australian Open final and won the French Open in 2008, opened with a 6-2, 6-3 win over American Shenay Perry in the first match to finish Tuesday.
MELBOURNE: Serena Williams started the defense of her Australian Open title with a dominating 6-2, 6-1 win Tuesday over Polish teenager Urszula Radwanska.
Williams also only lost three games in her previous match at Melbourne Park: a 6-0, 6-3 win over now No. 2-ranked Dinara Safinain last year's final.
Despite having her right thigh heavily wrapped with a white bandage, Williams didn't show any signs of restricted movement.
The 28-year-old American hurt her left knee at the Sydney International last Friday night and later said she has been bothered by a foot problem.
On the men's side, sixth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko had a 6-1, 6-0,6-3 win over Dieter Kindlmann of Germany and No. 21 Tomas Berdych advanced 6-0, 6-3, 6-3 over Robin Haase of the Netherlands.
No. 9 Fernando Verdasco, who lost to fellow Spaniard and eventual champion Rafael Nadal in a five-set semifinal here last year that was the longest match in the tournament's history, had a 6-7 (4) 7-6(1), 7-5, 6-2 win over wild card entry Carsten Ball of Australia.
Fabrice Santoro extended his Grand Slam career into a fourth decade, but lasted just one match _ a 7-5, 7-5, 6-3 loss to14th-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia.
Ana Ivanovic, who reached the Australian Open final and won the French Open in 2008, opened with a 6-2, 6-3 win over American Shenay Perry in the first match to finish Tuesday.
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