2013 Australian Open scores: Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova open with straight set victories

The year’s first slam is underway in Melbourne, and the biggest names in action on the first day at the 2013 Australian Open are all through to the second round. No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, 7-5. Djokovic’s opening match lasted less than two hours as he took his first step towards a third straight Aussie Open.

David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych were the other highest-ranked men who played on the first day, and both the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds advanced in straight sets. Local favorite Lleyton Hewitt’s tournament stay did not last long, however, as he fell in straight sets to Janko Tipsarevic, 7-6 (4), 7-5, 6-3. In 17 tries, Hewitt has never won the Aussie Open and was certainly a longshot to advance deep this year.

On the women’s side, No. 2 Maria Sharapova did not drop a game in her first match, defeating Olga Puchkova, 6-0, 6-0. The match opened play on center court, but it lasted only 55 minutes. Aussie Sam Stosur will join Sharapova in the second round after a 7-6, 6-3, win over Kai-Chen Chang.

As for the Americans, Venus Williams dropped just one game as she rolled through to the second round with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Galina Voskoboeva. It was an impressive showing for Venus, who could meet Sharapova in the third round. The top three American men, Sam Querrey, Ryan Harrison, and Brian Baker all advanced as well. Querrey struggled at the start, dropping the opening set to Daniel Munoz-De La Nava, who won the tiebreak. But Querrey stormed back to take the next three sets and win 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. He’ll now face Baker, who hung on in a five-set march to set up the all-American second round clash.