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Serena Wins Aussie Opener

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The Associated Press

Published: January 20, 2009

MELBOURNE, Australia - Serena Williams, trying to maintain her record of winning the Australian Open every alternate year since 2003, won her first-round match at Melbourne Park.

Williams beat Chinese wild card Yuan Meng 6-3, 6-2 today at Rod Laver Arena. Due to the searing early afternoon temperatures - as high as 104 degrees - officials invoked part of the extreme heat policy that allowed players to wear ice vests in the changeovers and to take a 10-minute break at the end of each set.

Williams, the reigning U.S. Open champion, won Australian Open singles titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Andy Murray was leading Andrei Pavel 6-2, 3-1, 15-0 when the Romanian retired with a back injury.

Roger Federer commenced his quest for a 14th major to equal Pete Sampras' record with a 6-1, 7-6 (4), 7-5 first-round win over 35th-ranked Andreas Seppi of Italy that finished after midnight.

It was a difficult opener, considering Seppi is only just outside the top 32 players who are seeded for the tournament.

Federer had mononucleosis this time last year and that dogged him for months.

Sixth-seeded Venus Williams, who won her fifth Wimbledon title and finished off 2008 by winning the season-ending tour championship, goes against Angelique Kerber of Germany.

Fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva, unbeaten in 10 matches this year and winner of the Beijing Olympic gold medal, plays Kristina Barrois.

Rafael Nadal starts his second consecutive major as the top seed in a night match against Christophe Rochus of Belgium, about the same time No. 9 James Blake of Tampa is due to play Canada's Frank Dancevic.

Tampa's Mardy Fish also advanced, but six other Americans made first-round exits: Robby Ginepri, John Isner, Robert Kendrick, Bobby Reynolds, Sam Querrey and Taylor Dent.

Dent, returning from three back operations for his first major since 2006, lost to fellow American Amer Delic in five sets.

Other men advancing were No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro and No. 10 David Nalbandian of Argentina, No. 11 David Ferrer, No. 15 Stanislas Wawrinka, 2005 champion Marat Safin, 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis and 16-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic.

Third-seeded Dinara Safina and No. 7 Vera Zvonareva of Russia, No. 11 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, No. 15 Alize Cornet of France, No. 16 Marion Bartoli and No. 19 Daniela Hantuchova were among the women advancing.

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