Favorite Serena Williams started her quest for an Australian Open title with the easiest of victories over Edina Gallovits-Hall in the first round, despite suffering an injury scare, while Caroline Woznicaki and Victoria Azarenka also advanced to the second round.
Maria Sharapova had begun her campaign with a double bagel, and Williams, not one to be overshadowed, did exactly the same, not allowing her Romanian opponent to win a single game in a 6-0, 6-0 victory.
It was not all plain sailing, even if the scores might suggest otherwise, as the 31-year-old suffered setback in the first set, rolling over her ankle, but hobbled on despite the problem to complete a sound outing.
Williams is the clear favorite for the title here in Melbourne, with the American looking for her third straight Grand Slam title after coasting to victories at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year.
Earlier, former world number one Caroline Wozniacki, seeded ten, overcame a tough opponent in German Sabine Lisicki 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, while 42-year-old veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm upset Russian No. 12 seed Nadia Petrova 6-2, 6-0.
At the Rod Laver Arena, defending champions Azarenka rarely put a foot wrong in her 6-1, 6-4 win over Romanian Monica Niculescu.
In the night session on opening day, No. 13-seeded Ana Ivanovic eased past Melinda Czink of Hungary 6-2, 6-1.
The Serbian crowd favorite said she was happy to come out of the match unscathed. "I expected tough match because we played few times in the past," she said. "I also lost once against her.
"I really wanted to make sure I work hard for each point and try to take away time for her because she likes to strike the ball and counter punch and use the pace of opponents.
"I was really pleased with my performance overall."
The former world number one said she was not thinking too far ahead, and was happy to take it one match at a time.
"It's great I have a day in between to reset and prepare and plan for the next round," Ivanovic added.
"There is no easy matches. But it's a challenge. I enjoy it. I really hope I can perform well.
"Last year, quarterfinals of U.S. Open was the first time I play quarters since winning French Open. So it's very hard talking about winning.
"But I definitely feel my game, it's at a higher level than it was. There are tough opponents out there, lots of girls playing well. I feel like I can challenge all of them.
"It's going to be a good test to see how far I can go."
