Federer into 7th Aussie final as Chung retires

16 January 2018 06:37 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 0

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Defending champion Roger Federer eased into his seventh Australian Open final in a bitter-sweet win after South Korean young gun Chung Hyeon retired injured in their last four showdown Friday.

The Swiss great was leading 6-1, 5-2 when Chung called it quits with foot blisters, and he will now face Marin Cilic in his 30th Grand Slam final on Sunday.

Chung, the first South Korean man or woman to play in a semi-final at one of the four majors, was treated in a medical timeout for the left foot problem just two games earlier.

But it came as a big surprise when the 21-year-old walked to the net at 30-30 and trailing 2-5 after 62 minutes in the second set to throw in the towel.

It pitched Federer into his seventh Australian final as he chases his sixth Melbourne title and a record 20th Grand Slam victory.

He leads 2014 US Open champion Cilic 8-1 in their meetings.

“This feels bitter-sweet. Obviously I'm incredibly happy to be in the finals, but not like this,” Federer said of the abrupt ending.

“I would have preferred a normal end, yes. But I must admit, as well, you do take the faster matches whenever you can.

“There's enough wear and tear on the body, there's enough tough matches throughout the season that when they happen, you take them.

“There's nothing you can do anyway about it. I'm just happy I'm in the final, to be honest.”

The Swiss maestro now has a 30-13 win-loss record in Grand Slam semi-finals and has yet to drop a set in this year's Australian Open.

“You couldn't tell until the end,” he said of Chung's injury problems. “That's probably why a lot of people are stunned (he retired).

“I could tell something was wrong before he took the injury timeout, but he has a great composure.

“I think he is already a great player, but we are talking next level excellence and I think he will achieve that.

“We will see much more of him. Top 10 for sure. The rest we will see.”

It was a muted semi-final with the retractable roof closed on Rod Laver Arena for rain, further improving Federer's chances given his strong indoor record.

He broke Chung's opening service and twice more to romp away with the first set in just 33 minutes as the Korean made a flurry of errors.

It got no better in the second set with Federer again breaking in the fourth game before the trainer was called on to the court to treat Chung for his foot blisters.

Chung only lasted a bit more than two games before pulling out to a stunned silence.

“It's like worse than regular blisters. Over the last few days, it was blister under blister under blister,” said Chung at his post-match press conference.

“Now it's red raw.” He added that retiring was the “right thing”.

“If I play bad on the court, it's not good for the fans and audience as well,” he said.
Federer was sympathetic.

“I've played with blisters in the past a lot, and it hurts a lot, and at one point it is just too much and you can't take it anymore,” he said.

“That's when you realise there is no way you can come back and you make things really worse, it is better to stop.”

Federer broke Chung's serve four times off 11 break points and only had one break point on his own service.

The Swiss second seed hit 24 winners while Chung made 17 unforced errors in 14 games, eight of them off his normally potent forehand which Federer targeted.

DAY ELEVEN REPORT: Federer faces Chung semi test as Kerber and Halep shine

Roger Federer zeroed in on a 20th Grand Slam title Wednesday with Chung Hyeon next in his Australian Open firing line as dominant Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep raced into a semi-final showdown.

The clinical Swiss ace strode into the last four at Melbourne Park for a 14th time with a clinical 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 6-4 dismantling of old foe Tomas Berdych.

He now faces Chung on Friday for a place in the final after the unseeded South Korean kept his dream run going by battling past American Tennys Sandgren 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to become the lowest-ranked semi-finalist since Marat Safin in 2004.

Germany's Kerber, champion two years ago, swept aside Madison Keys 6-1, 6-2, easily taming the American's big serve and will go into her clash with the world number one on a 14-match win streak.

Top seed Halep was equally impressive on Rod Laver Arena in thumping sixth seed Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-2, reeling off nine games in a row after going 0-3 behind in the first set.

Defending champion Federer, chasing a sixth Australian title, held a 19-6 lead over the Czech 19th seed going into the match and after a close first set, it was one-way traffic.

"I'm very happy I got out of that first set, it was key to the match in the end," he said, adding that he was excited to now be up against Chung.

"It's great to see new names on the scene. He reminds me a lot of Novak (Djokovic)."

Ranked 58, the bespectacled Chung, nicknamed "The Professor", proved too hot for his fellow quarter-final rookie Sandgren, although he needed six match points before claiming victory.

"I never played in second week of a Grand Slam, so I'm really surprised," said the delighted Suwon native, who is the first player -- man or woman -- from his country to reach a Grand Slam semi-final.

"I'm just trying to stay focused," added the 21-year-old as he prepares to face Federer, having already knocked out an injured Djokovic.

Sandgren, who wiped his Twitter account ahead of the game after being dogged by controversy over his political views, paid tribute to the Korean.

"He's a fantastic player," he said, adding that he was also upbeat about his own future after a breakthrough tournament.

"I'm excited about that. Hopefully I can keep playing well."

Kerber, who won the title in 2016, is in scintillating form after an unbeaten singles campaign in the Hopman Cup and her triumph in the Sydney International warm-up.

Keys was expected to be a stiff challenge, having not dropped a set en route to the quarters, but she melted under the German's relentless groundstrokes and pinpoint return of serve.

"I'm just trying to find the feeling back I had like 2016," said Kerber, who had a forgettable 2017 after winning not only in Australia but also the US Open in 2016.

"Madison is a hard hitter, and she served good. So I was trying to play from the first point aggressive and moving good and also bringing a lot of balls back," she added.

The win ensures Kerber, seeded 21, will move back into the world's top 10.

Halep is next for her on Thursday, with the nuggety Romanian taming towering Czech Pliskova's serve to scamper into the last four for the first time in Melbourne.

"I didn't have the best start, but I restarted after three games. I stopped missing so much and moved better," said Halep, who showed no signs of the ankle injury that has been troubling her in previous rounds.

She is wary of Kerber and vowed to "stay calm and play like I did today".

"I have the plan in my head. I know most of the time where she's hitting. That's why maybe I can win against her," she said.

DAY NINE REPORT: Cilic into Open semis as injured Nadal retires

Marin Cilic made his second Australian Open semi-final after world No.1 Rafael Nadal retired with a leg injury during a titanic struggle on Tuesday.

The world No.6 and former US Open champion won 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 2-0 in 3hr 47min on Rod Laver Arena when Nadal pulled out in pain early in the fifth set.

He will play Britain's unseeded Kyle Edmund in an unexpected semi-final match-up on Thursday.

It was the second time Nadal has retired at the Australian Open after quitting his quarter-final win against Andy Murray in 2010 with a knee injury.

Cilic's first Australian semi-final came eight years ago when he lost to Murray.

Nadal was leading two sets to one before he called for the trainer and received a medical timeout trailing 1-4 in the fourth set.

He received treatment for an upper right leg injury and upon resuming his mobility was greatly affected and he lost the fourth set before calling an early end after losing a service break at 0-2 in the fifth.

"It was an unbelievable performance from the both of us and it is really unfortunate for Rafa, he's an unbelievable competitor, always gives his best and it's very unfortunate to finish this way for him," Cilic said.

"I guess in the pre-season he had some troubles with the injuries, but he came here prepared really well. He played a very good tournament. Obviously very sad for him to finish the way he did."

Cilic, who is coming off an outstanding 2017 where he lost to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final and made the quarter-finals at Roland Garros along with climbing to a career-high ranking of four, said he was delighted with his form.

"Even in these other matches before this one, I played great tennis. Very high level," he said.

"I was always in the process where I want to keep going with my own game and try to lift up, keep pushing as much as I can. So I am extremely pleased with the performance."

Before Nadal's setback it had been a match of high quality, with Nadal edging ahead after a fluctuating third set tiebreaker.

Cilic was incensed to receive a time violation warning while serving down two break points and came up with a double-fault for a break at 2-3 in the second set.

But the Croat reeled off two service breaks and levelled the match 6-3 with an ace.

Nadal won a mighty tussle for the third set lasting 72 minutes which went to a tiebreaker.

The world No.1 held set point at 5-4 before Cilic held and in the tiebreaker a couple of Cilic misses gave Nadal his second set point which he took with an ace.

But Cilic would not be denied and he broke Nadal's serve in the fourth game of the fourth set, racing to a 4-1 lead.

Nadal took his medical timeout to seek treatment for his leg injury before resuming, but with difficulty.

Cilic broke him a second time to take the match into a fifth set but with Nadal noticeably limping between points, the Spaniard eventually walked to the umpire and conceded.

Cilic served 20 aces, with a fastest serve clocked at 215km/h (165 mph) and broke Nadal's serve five times, as well as hitting 83 winners and making 62 unforced errors.

DAY SEVEN REPORT: Relieved Rafa survives test as Dimitrov ousts Kyrgios

Rafael Nadal battled through a huge test to make his 10th Australian Open quarter-final Sunday as Grigor Dimitrov ousted Nick Kyrgios to join him and Caroline Wozniacki kicked into full gear.

On an overcast and muggy day at Melbourne Park, the Spanish world number one was up against his most dangerous opponent yet in pocket-rocket Diego Schwartzman, one of the smallest men on tour.

The Argentine 24th seed endeared with his astonishingly powerful groundstrokes before Nadal prevailed 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-3 in almost four hours on Rod Laver Arena.

It kept alive his push for a 17th Grand Slam title and also ensured he will remain number one when the new rankings come out after the tournament.

“It was a great battle,” said Nadal, who is chasing his second Melbourne title after beating Roger Federer in the 2009 final.

“Of course, I feel little bit tired, but I was able to keep fighting until the end.”

He will play sixth seed Marin Cilic for a place in the semi-finals after the Croat beat Spanish 10th seed Pablo Correna Busta 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/0), 7-6 (7/3).

The win was Cilic's 100th at a Grand Slam.

“I have played great tennis from the first round against tough opponents and now I am really looking to the next match, it will be definitely be a big challenge,” he said of the Nadal clash.

Ordinarily Nadal, as the top seed, would have top billing on Rod Laver in the evening, but not with local star Kyrgios in action.

The maturing Australian 22-year-old pushed world number three Dimitrov close in a hugely entertaining four setter before succumbing 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4).

“Playing Nick is always tricky,” said the Bulgarian, as he targets bettering the semi-finals he made last year.

“It was one of those matches you had to take any opportunity that you got.” His reward is a showdown with Briton Kyle Edmund, who reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final with a 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win over Italy's Andreas Seppi.

World number two Wozniacki turned on the style in her match to take another step towards a maiden Grand Slam title.

The assured Wozniacki, a semi-finalist in 2011 who has never quite lived up to the hype in the majors, annihilated 19th-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-0 in her most impressive performance to date.

“She really mixes up the pace, I just tried to calm down, get my returns in and wait for the opportunities to attack,” she said after crushing the Slovak, who made the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year.

“I think you can tell my confidence is pretty good at the moment.” Her easy passage sets up a last-eight clash with gritty Spaniard Suarez Navarro, who battled back from a set and 4-1 down to shatter the hopes of 32nd seed Anett Kontaviet.

The Estonian had been bubbling with confidence after despatching French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the third round, but nerves got the better of her.

The Spaniard, who has made the quarter-finals in Melbourne twice before, most recently in 2016, credited her fightback with a conscious decision to be more aggressive.

“My team all the time they say (to) me, play aggressive, play aggressive. That's I think what I did,” said Suarez Navarro, one of the few who still uses a one-handed backhand.

Looking ahead to Wozniacki, she added: “I know how she plays. I know how tough she is. It will be a really interesting match.” The 37th-ranked Elise Mertens also made the last eight, becoming the first Belgian since Kim Clijsters in 2012 to get so far in Australia.

She posted a straight-sets win over Croat Petra Martic and will now play either fourth seed Elina Svitolina or Czech qualifier Denisa Allertova.

DAY SIX REPORT: FedExpress steams on as Sharapova grinds to halt

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic kept up their relentless march towards a semi-final meeting at the Australian Open Saturday as Maria Sharapova suffered a crushing defeat by Angelique Kerber.

The two greats of the game -- who have won 11 Australian Opens between them -- could meet in the last four if they maintain their winning ways.

Defending champion Federer was never troubled by France's Richard Gasquet, who has failed to take a set off him since 2011, as he steamed into the last 16 with a 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win.

“The second set was tight, the match was close and I had to focus to the very end,” said the Swiss 19-time Grand Slam winner, who next plays little-known Hungarian Marton Fucsovics for a place in the quarter-finals.

He added: “So far, so good.” Djokovic was equally convincing in his 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 rout of Spanish 21st seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas, although there was concern when he sought a medical timeout for treatment to his lower back.

“It was straight sets but I had to earn my points,” insisted the Serb, who is on his way back after six months out with right elbow trouble.

“Obviously for me it's taking it one match at a time but I have to be more humble with my expectations as I haven't played in the last six months.” He next plays South Korea's Chung Hyeon, who shocked fourth seed Alexander Zverev.

With the temperatures a manageable 26 Celsius (79 Farenheit) at Melbourne Park after two days of oven-like conditions, Zverev was beaten in five sets.

He has been hailed as the leader of the tennis new guard but has now failed to go beyond the fourth round in 11 Grand Slams, admitting he has “some figuring out to do”.

In a glamour evening tie, Sharapova was no match for Kerber, flopping 6-1, 6-3.

They pair are both 30, former world number ones and were the only two Australian Open winners left in the women's draw, but there was only one player in it.

“This court is special for me and I was trying to enjoy every point,” Kerber said of Rod Laver Arena, where she beat Serena Williams in the 2016 final.

Kerber is in scintillating form, having won the lead-up Sydney International, and will face Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei for a place in the quarter-finals.

For Sharapova, who is looking to rediscover her best on her way back from a 15-month drugs ban, it is back to the drawing board.

“I think there are a lot of things that I need to get better at and improve on,” she admitted.

World number one Simona Halep is lucky to be still in contention after surviving three match points in a titanic struggle against 76th-ranked American Lauren Davis.

She looked out for the count at one point but finally got over the line 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 in a gruelling 3hr 44min epic that took its toll.

“I'm almost dead,” the tenacious Romanian said after the incredible battle, in which Davis lost a toenail and Halep served for the match four times.

The former quarter-finalist will now play Naomi Osaka after the Japanese star beat Australia's Ashleigh Barty.

Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova also had a tough test, beating fellow Czech Lucie Safarova 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.

In contrast, US Open finalist Madison Keys was in fine touch as she benefits from the guidance of former great Lindsay Davenport.

Flying under the radar, the 17th seed has surrendered just 16 games on her way to the fourth round after beating Romania's Ana Bogdan 6-3, 6-4.

She will next face French eighth seed Caroline Garcia, who was too strong for Belarussian Alaksandra Sasnovich.

Among the men through was Austrian fifth seed Dominic Thiem and veteran Tomas Berdych, along with American Tennys Sandgren, who had never won a Grand Slam match before this year's Australian Open.

DAY FIVE REPORT: Confident Nadal demolishes Dzumhur

Rafael Nadal continued his sensational run in the Australian Open, shedding just five games in romping to a straight sets win over Damir Dzumhur on Friday.

The Spanish world No.1 took just 1hr 50min to storm into the fourth round with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 demolition of the 28th seeded Bosnian on Margaret Court Arena.

Nadal, a losing finalist to Roger Federer last year in Melbourne, has lost only 21 games in his three victories to reach the round of 16 after coming into the year's opening Grand Slam with queries over the state of a knee injury.

He will take on Argentina's 24th seed Diego Schwartzman in Sunday's fourth round.

“When you win 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in the third round, is always a great result,” Nadal said.

“I needed hours of court, hours of practice, hours of playing sets with different players.

That's what I did.

“I think I did a good preparation here. I feel I am playing well. That's all.

“Here I am. I am in the fourth round. That's because I am doing the right things. Let's see how far I can go.”

The 16-time Grand Slam champion conceded just 18 unforced errors and only dropped his service once.

The win took the 31-year-old's Australian Open record to 54-11 as he chases his second Melbourne title after beating Federer in the 2009 final.

Nadal was ruthless against the Bosnian, breaking his serve seven times with blistering shot-making.

He breezed through the opening set with two breaks for the loss of just one game in 22 minutes.

He then broke Dzumhur in the opening game of the second and finished off the set with another break for a two sets lead.

Nadal continued to attack Dzumhur and broke him in the second and sixth games to wrap up his night.

Nadal said he would have to be at his best to get past Schwartzman, a quarter-finalist at last year's US Open.

“He's a great player. He had an amazing last year, and he's started again this year playing so well,” Nadal said.

“He's won three matches here, playing at very high level. He's a very complete player. He's a player that if I don't play my best, probably I am not going to win. Tough one.”

Nadal, who is gunning for a 17th major title, was hampered by a knee injury at the tail-end of the 2017 season.

It forced him to skip the lead-up Brisbane International this month, and he only had a one-match workout at the exhibition Kooyong Classic in Melbourne ahead of the Open.

Nadal needs to reach the quarter-finals to be certain of retaining his world number one ranking after the Australian Open, with Federer breathing down his neck.

DAY FOUR REPORT: Struggling Wawrinka's early exit from Open

Struggling Swiss former winner Stan Wawrinka's Australian Open campaign is over after a convincing second round defeat by American Tennys Sandgren on Thursday.

The 97th-ranked Sandgren downed ninth seeded Wawrinka 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 and will next play Germany's Maximilian Marterer.

It has been tough so far this year for Wawrinka, who was playing in his first tournament since Wimbledon six months ago following left knee surgery.

“Today was extremely tough to feel that way on the court, to lose that way, even if he was playing well,” Wawrinka said.

“When you have won three Grand Slams, you don't feel great on the court like today. But I need to be still positive. I think the last 12 days was more than what I could have dreamed for coming here.

“I really came without thinking I will be able to play the first match. That's a big step for me.

“I only had surgery five months and three days ago and to be that far already, it's more than what we could have expected with my team.”

He was never in the contest and had his serve broken five times and made only 21 winners and 35 unforced errors.

The three-time Grand Slam winner, who defeated Rafael Nadal to win the 2014 Australian Open, has slipped to nine in the world rankings and faces a battle to climb higher after his early round exit.

He made the semi-finals at last year's Australian Open where he lost to eventual champion Roger Federer in five sets.

Wawrinka had a troubled lead-in to the year's opening Grand Slam, pulling out of an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi on his way to Australia.

He had not played a competitive match prior to his first round Open win over Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis, having only decided to take part last weekend.

“My plan is to leave here and go back to practice, especially fitness-wise at the beginning,” Wawrinka said of his future plans.

“I know I have a lot of work to do. I need to be really patient. It's going to be tough. But I'm ready for it.” He said his next tournaments would be Marseille and Rotterdam.

Sandgren's next opponent, world No.94 Marterer, reached the third round with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-3 over Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco.

“This would definitely be (the biggest match),” Sandgren said of his win over Wawrinka.

“All the categories: biggest win, biggest moment of getting a victory, setting me up for the biggest stage to play third round of a Slam, biggest opportunity. All those good things. “

DAY THREE: Nadal dominant as big guns pull off great escapes

Rafael Nadal swept into the Australian Open third round to keep his Grand Slam title hunt on track Wednesday, as Caroline Wozniacki and Grigor Dimitrov pulled off great escapes to stay in contention.

The world number one Spaniard's march towards a 17th Grand Slam crown was never threatened by Argentina's Leonardo Mayer, who took him to a third set tiebreak before being swatted aside 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on Rod Laver Arena.

“Playing this court is always a big motivation for me,” said Nadal, who lost last year's final to Roger Federer.

“He was a dangerous opponent and I'm happy to be in the third round.

“For my team and my family, this is our favourite tournament of the year, so I hope to stay around a bit longer,” he added.

Nadal, showing no signs of the troublesome knee that bothered him late last season and interrupted his Melbourne lead-up, next plays Bosnian 28th seed Damir Dzumhur.

Surprisingly, he was not the prime time men's night match on centre court, with that honour going to third seed Dimitrov, who survived a huge scare from unheralded qualifier Mackenzie McDonald.

The Bulgarian needed to call on all his experience to down the 186th-ranked American 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 0-6, 8-6.

“I'm very happy with the win, not because the way I played, but because the way I fought,” said Dimitrov. “It all came down to a few points here and there.” In contrast to Nadal's easy progress, world number two Wozniacki also struggled against little-known Croat Jana Fett.

The Dane saved two match points and rallied from 5-1 down in an epic third set to keep her dream of a first Grand Slam title alive.

She looked out for the count, and was struggling afterwards to work out how she survived 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 against a player ranked 119.

“That was crazy, I don't how I got back in the match,” said Wozniacki, adding that “experience was crucial”.

Fourth seed Elina Svitolina also came from a set down to overcome spirited Czech Katerina Siniakova 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The Ukrainian is now on a seven-match win streak and after picking up five WTA Tour titles last year, more than any other woman, is a serious Grand Slam contender.

Her next task is tackling 15-year-old sensation Marta Kostyuk, who became the youngest woman to reach the third round since Martina Hingis got to the quarter-finals in 1996.

Also Ukrainian, she beat local wildcard Olivia Rogowska 6-3, 7-5.

Her win streak at Melbourne Park is now 11 straight matches after claiming the Australian Open girls' title in 2017 and coming through qualifying this year.

“I heard a lot of times that I'm talented, and I know that,” said the confident teen. “But I know that only talent will not help me to play good. So I'm working pretty hard.”

Svitolina said she knew little about the youngster, and was preparing for a no-holds barred fight.

“She has nothing to lose, so that's why I know she goes just for everything. You know, a little bit like a headless chicken,” she said.

French Open champion and seventh seed Jelena Ostapenko also progressed, but she too needed three sets to get past China's Duan Yingying.

On a hot Melbourne day, Croatia's sixth seed Marin Cilic advanced, with last year's Wimbledon finalist easily beating Joao Sousa.

US Open semi-finalist and 10th seed Pablo Carreno-Busta also went through after French veteran Gilles Simon retired injured when trailing 6-2, 3-0.

And fighting former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga saw off rising Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov in a five-set thriller.

But Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a quarter-finalist last year, became the latest seed to slump out in the women's draw, which has been shorn of leading names over the first two rounds.

Venus Williams' conqueror Belinda Bencic also ran out of steam, having no answers against Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum, slumping out 6-1, 6-3.

DAY TWO REPORT: Federer and Djokovic take control in Melbourne

Flawless Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic stamped their mark on the Australian Open on Tuesday with focused former champion Maria Sharapova also successfully negotiating the first round after her drug ban.

Defending champion Federer, rated as favourite to win his 20th Grand Slam title, made his entrance on Rod Laver Arena with a sizzling 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 lesson for Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene.

The second seeded Swiss, who is coming off an extraordinary 2017, when he won a fifth Australian Open title and a record eighth at Wimbledon, was in total control.

“I was thinking a lot about what happened at the tournament last year because it was my favourite tournament of the whole season,” said the 36-year-old, who beat Rafael Nadal in the 2017 final.

“I'm hoping for it to go well again.” Twelve-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic has been out of action for six months with an elbow injury, but he too looked the goods in his 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 demolition of American Donald Young.

Gunning for a seventh Australian Open title, he was glad to be back at the coal face, having missed the competitive edge.

“I wanted to start with the right intensity, which I have,” he told the cheering crowd afterwards.

“I played perfect tennis in the first couple of sets and Donald came back in the third set.”

Former Melbourne champion Stan Wawrinka also successfully returned from half a year on the sidelines after knee surgery, having only decided he was fit to play at the weekend.

With the temperatures heating up, he was pushed to four sets by Ricardas Berankis before prevailing 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/2) in a tough workout he said was “proud” to come through.

World number one Simona Halep booked her place in round two, avoiding the first round exit that befell her in the past two years. But she made a meal of it against local hope Destanee Aiava.

Both the Romanian and her 17-year-old wildcard opponent needed on-court medical attention before the top seed ran out a battling 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 winner.

Third seeded Garbine Muguruza, with heavy strapping on her injured right thigh, made her tournament bow with a laboured 6-3, 6-3 win over French wildcard Jessika Ponchet.

Sharapova, still working her way back from a 15-month ban for taking the performance-enhancing substance meldonium in Australia in 2016, showed glimpses of the tennis that made her a five-time major winner.

The 2008 Melbourne Park champion, now ranked 48, beat Germany's Tatjana Maria 6-1, 6-4 in her first Australian Open match in two years.

“I cherish these moments. I love it here,” said the Russian, who returned from her drugs ban in April last year.

“It's been a couple of years and I wanted it to be really meaningful to me.” Fellow former world number one Angelique Kerber, who won the tournament in 2016, was also impressive in dismissing Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-0, 6-4.

“2017, I have said goodbye already, I am not looking back,” she said after a forgettable last season that saw her relinquish the number one spot and slide down the rankings.

She is now on a 10-match win streak after a perfect early season.

Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova and eighth seed Caroline Garcia also progressed, in contrast to the other side of the draw that saw Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens and Coco Vandeweghe crash out on Monday.

American woes continued with Madison Brengle sent packing by British ninth seed Johanna Konta.

Young gun Alexander Zverev, seeded four, Belgian seventh seed David Goffin, and dark horse Tomas Berdych were among men to make the second round.

But Canada's Milos Raonic, who has made at least the last eight over the past three years in Melbourne, was bundled out by 86th-ranked Slovakian Lukas Lacko in four sets.

It was his earliest Grand Slam exit in seven years as he fights back from a wrist injury.

(AFP)

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