Sharapova makes light work of Sasnovich to advance in Australian Open

“I haven’t played many matches in many weeks, it was great to come out here and start my season”, said Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam victor who could face a rematch against Williams this year but in the quarterfinals.

Defending champion Serena Williams has won her first-round match, beating Camila Giorgi of Italy 6-4, 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena.

Williams dropped only three matches in 56 last season and won three majors, the Australian and French Opens and Wimbledon, before being deprived of a calendar-year Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows.

Williams’ troublesome knee forced her to pull out of the Hopman Cup earlier this month and she was pictured taking treatment during a practice session in Melbourne on Saturday. In reports published before the tournament, the BBC and BuzzFeed News said secret files exposed evidence of widespread suspected match-fixing at the top level of tennis, with Grand Slam winners among a core group of 16 players that tennis officials repeatedly had been warned about for suspicious behavior.

Williams showed plenty of emotion in the big moments despite rolling out to a 4-1 lead in the first set.

The fifth seeded Russian dominated all around the blue court to take the sets 6-2, 6-1.

Kvitova, who withdrew from a warm-up tournament in China because of a stomach virus, said her preparation was disrupted ahead of the rematch with Kumkhum.

“My first one I think”, she said.

“Still (people) tell me how good I played seven years ago”, Verdasco told reporters after his 7-6(6) 4-6 3-6 7-6(4) 6-2 victory in four hours 41 minutes.

“I’m not going to talk about it much just because I want the book to do the talking”.

In other early women’s matches on Monday, Spanish 10th seed Carla Suarez beat Swiss qualifier Viktorija Golubic 7-5, 6-4 and American Nicole Gibbs defeated Czech Klara Koukalova 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.

“I’m like, “I didn’t play again after that?’ Even last night they told me at the hotel (about the 2009 match) and I’m like ‘I play against him tomorrow”.

At 34, Serena is the oldest No. 1-ranked player in WTA history. “She’s really good, a talented player”.

Veteran baseliner Lleyton Hewitt will begin his final tournament at the Australian Open on Tuesday as Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal also enter the men’s draw.

Azarenka next plays Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who has reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time with a win over the 18th seed, Elina Svitolina.

ATP chairman Chris Kermode and the Tennis Integrity Unit have rejected news reports that match-fixing has gone unchecked in the sport.

Novak Djokovic refused to get sidetracked by sapping heat as he eased past Chung Hyeon to kick off his quest for a record-equalling sixth Australian Open title on Monday.

No. 13 Vinci beat Irina Falconi 6-2, 6-3 to advance, and is a potential fourth-round rival for No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-4, 6-2 in a match featuring two former Wimbledon finalists.