Federer fires the opening shot

Roger Federer didnt waste any time on Monday at the Australian Open,winning his opening match by playing like a man who doesnt want his remarkable 7 1/2-year run of success in Grand Slams to end.

Federer was rarely troubled in beating Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-1,6-1,6-3 in 84 minutes on the first day at Melbourne Park,barely waiting for the ballboys and ballgirls to get back to their positions before serving. The win came at Rod Laver Arena,a stadium named after the player who Federers main rival here Rafael Nadal is trying to emulate.

Nadal has won three majors in a row last years French Open,Wimbledon and US Open. So unless Federer can win the final,it will be the first time since winning Wimbledon in 2003 that the Swiss star hasnt held at least one major title. His 24-year-old Spanish rival is trying to make it four in a row and complete his Rafa Slam. Laver won all four in 1969,a true calendar year Grand Slam.

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Third-seeded Novak Djokovic,the 2008 champion,was rarely under pressure as he beat Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-1,6-3,6-1 with a relentess display of all-court tennis in the night match,smashing winners from the baseline just a point after coming to the net for a backhand slice drop shot. Andy Roddick had a 6-1,6-2,6-2 win over Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic. The eighth-seeded American is trying to end a Grand Slam drought his one and only major came at the 2003 US Open.

Two other American men had contrasting fortunes in five-setter matches No. 18 Sam Querrey lost to Lukasz Kubot of Poland 5-7,6-2,3-6,6-1,8-6,while 16th-seeded Mardy Fish came back from two sets down to beat Victor Hanescu of Romania 2-6,4-6,6-3,7-5,6-3.

No. 23 Nikolay Davydenko,a quarter-finalist last year,lost 6-3,4-6,7-6 (4),6-4 to Florian Mayer. Former world junior champion Thiemo De Bakker served for the match at 5-3 in the third against Gael Monfils but lost 6-7 (5),2-6,7-5,6-2,6-1.

Gilles Simon of France beat Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan 6-7 (3),6-2,6-4,6-2 and will next face Federer. Simon is one of the few players on tour to hold a winning record against Federer,winning both previous meetings on hard courts in 2008. Ninth-seeded Fernando Verdasco,who made an impressive run to the semi-finals in Melbourne two years ago,beat Rainer Schuettler of Germany 6-1,6-3,6-2 and No. 17 Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia defeated Australian wild card entry Peter Luczak 6-3,6-3,7-6 (2).

Wozniacki begins with a win

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Caroline Wozniacki started her first major as the No. 1-ranked woman with a 6-3,6-4 victory over Argentinas Gisela Dulko. Fifth-seeded Venus Williams advanced after beating Sara Errani of Italy 6-3,6-2. Maria Sharapova won for the first time at Melbourne Park since taking the 2008 title,beating Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-1,6-3 in the opening match on Rod Laver Arena.

Sharapova,who missed the 2009 tournament because of a shoulder injury and was ousted in the first round last year by fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko,struggled with her serve and was inconsistent in the second set. She finished with 10 double-faults and five aces.

After losing the opening service game at love,Sharapova won seven straight games to take a 6-1,1-0 lead. French Open champion Francesca Schiavone had difficulty in her first match,beating Arantxa Parra Santonja of Spain 6-7 (4),6-2,6-4.

In other womens matches,last years semifinalist Li Na of China had a 6-1,7-5 win over Swedens Sofia Arvidsson and No. 15 Marion Bartoli of France shut out Italys Tathiana Garbin 6-0,6-0. No. 20 Kaia Kanepi of Estonia and No. 29 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia advanced,along with No. 30 Andrea Petkovic,who beat American Jill Craybas 6-1,6-2.

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