MELBOURNE, 18 January 2005 — Champion Roger Federer led an express-speed charge of seeded players through the first round of the Australian Open yesterday, with Andre Agassi also making a confident start after an injury scare.
But former world number one and fifth seed Carlos Moya was a shock casualty on the opening day, falling to little-known fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
Top seed Federer raced past Frenchman Fabrice Santoro 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in 94 minutes on Rod Laver Arena centre court at Melbourne Park. “I was nervous going into today’s match but I started fantastic,” the Swiss champion said. “I feel a bit sorry for Fabrice today.”
Four-time champion Agassi, the eighth seed, worked just a little harder as he beat German qualifier Dieter Kindlmann 6-4, 6-3, 6-0 and eased concern about his hip injury.
“I just pushed through a bit of stiffness, and then I felt like it loosened up nicely and I was okay,” he said.
Former women’s champion Serena Williams and US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova matched Federer’s no-nonsense approach, with Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova and last year’s runner-up Marat Safin not far behind.
Resplendent in a translucent white skirt and fluorescent green shoes and top, 2003 Melbourne champion Williams dismissed France’s Camille Pin 6-1, 6-1 in 57 minutes in the opening match of the tournament on Rod Laver Arena.
Fifth seed Kuznetsova spent even less time on court, storming past American qualifier Jessica Kirkland 6-1, 6-1 in 43 minutes.
Russian teen Sharapova, the fourth seed, trounced 15-year-old Bulgarian Sesil Karatantcheva 6-3, 6-1 before second seed Amelie Mauresmo of France, runner-up in Melbourne in 1999, ended local hope Samantha Stosur’s run with a 6-2, 6-3 win in her first match of the year.
The 17-year-old Russian, seeded fourth, crunched 15 winners on her way to victory in exactly an hour. But though she looked every inch a potential champion, Sharapova said she had plenty of room for improvement.
“Like I’ve said before many times, I cannot win everything,” she said.
“You never know what can happen, and I’m still developing my game. It’s not that (because) I won a grand slam, all of a sudden I’m going to win everything. I understand that. And that’s why my game is still a work in progress.”
Safin thrashed Serbian Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 6-1 in the last of the center court night matches. It was the big Russian’s first win this year after he lost six matches on the trot in the lead-up and he showed again why he is considered one of the few players with any real chance of beating Federer.
Safin, beaten by Roger Federer in the final last year and by Thomas Johansson in 2002, looked sharp from the start and his big-hitting all-round game proved too much for the world number 188.
“Two times in the final, it’s too disappointing to think about,” Safin said. “But hopefully I’ll have a chance to be in the final a third time and hopefully this year.”
Twelve months ago, Safin beat Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi in two epic five-set battles on his way to the final, only to run out of steam as Federer swept him aside in straight sets.
While most seeds prospered, it was a fruitless day at the centenary Open for Moya, runner-up here in 1997. The 1998 French Open champion was beaten 7-5 6-3 3-6 6-3 by Garcia-Lopez, a qualifier playing in only his third grand slam tournament who grew up idolizing Moya.
Nothing went right for Moya. Federer, on the other hand, barely put a foot wrong in what amounted to a dazzling start to his bid to become the first man since Pete Sampras in 1993/1994 to win three consecutive grand slam events.
Last year’s Australian, Wimbledon and US Open champion was in prime form, showing the benefit of an extended stay in Australia.
Williams, the seventh seed and favorite, won here two years ago but was unable to defend her title in 2004 because of a knee injury. She also pulled out of an exhibition tournament in Hong Kong last week with a stomach muscle strain.
Occasionally rusty, Williams doubled-faulted on the opening point of the match and dropped her serve twice against Pin but still had plenty in reserve and said she was happy with her fitness. She had no problems with her confidence either. “I’ve always said that, when I’m at my best, no one can beat me,” the American said. “I think that’s just the bottom line.”
In men’s matches, Dominik Hrbaty became the first seed to advance when his Swedish opponent Robin Soderling retired hurt with the Slovak leading 6-4, 6-2, 1-0 in their first round match.
Swedish champion in 2002, Thomas Johansson, playing his first match here since his great day, defeated Aussie Peter Luczak 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 after missing two editions with knee surgery.
Italy’s 15th seed Silvia Farina Elia put out young German Julia Schruff 6-3, 6-4, but Martina Sucha of Slovakia earned the first upset of the week, defeating No. 16 Ai Sugiyama of Japan 7-5, 6-4.
