Melbourne - One-time Grand Slam winner Andy Roddick renewed his fight to regain relevance in tennis on Monday, beginning his Australian Open campaign with a defeat of Swedish qualifier Bjorn Rehnquist 6-0, 6-2, 6-2.
The number eight US player lifted his lone major honour at the 2003 US Open, then gradually slid into neutral and fell from the discussion when big titles were mentioned.
Melbourne - Australian Open organizers were breathing a sigh of relief after 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfriend Tsonga declared himself fit enough to play after a back injury scare.
"I'm feeling much better than the previous days and excited to go out there," said the fifth seed. "I was very worried because it's the kind of injury that you never know when it stops."
Melbourne - Ana Ivanovic led a trio of seeds to opening-day victories Monday at the Australian Open, with Serbia's former number one defeating German Julia Goerges 7-5, 6-3.
Fifth seed Ivanovic was followed into the second round by Russian number seven Vera Zvonareva, a 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 winner over Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova.
French ingenue Alize Cornet, the 15th seed, completed the early sweep against Mariya Koryttseva of the Ukraine 6-3, 6-4.
Melbourne - Roger Federer knows he's in tennis for the long haul, now expecting to figure in the sport well beyond the 2012 London Olympics.
With his immediate objective a fourth Australian Open title as the first Grand Slam of the season began on Monday, the 27-year-old has - as always - cast his eye well into the future.
"I want to do well not only this year but many more years to come," said the 13-time Grand Slam champion. "I don't feel like this year is my last chance to either win the French Open or pick up a few Slams more easily.
Melbourne - Roger Federer was all business at the Australian Open player party, putting in a quick appearance before making an exit out the back door to return to his peace and tranquility prior to his Monday start.
The Swiss second seed was concentrating his energies on stopping first-round opponent Andreas Seppi, with little time for socializing.
Federer's pit stop at the Mexican restaurant in the Crown casino complex, where he has stayed for some years during the annual Grand Slam event, was as well-choreographed as his straight-set wins on court.
Melbourne, January 18 : Paris Hilton has given up on men - if the heiress' intimate snaps with galpal Cheyenne Tozzi are to be believed.
The millionaire-heiress has sparked lesbian rumours after she was said to have showered all her attention on Tozzi while ignoring other surrounding guys as they trotted Sydney, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast together.
It was, however, in Byron that allegations of their being more than friends emerged, when Tozzi abandoned her other model friends to be with the socialite.
Melbourne - One-time Grand Slam winner Andy Roddick renewed his fight to regain relevance in tennis on Monday, beginning his Australian Open campaign with a defeat of Swedish qualifier Bjorn Rehnquist 6-0, 6-2, 6-2.
Melbourne - Australian Open organizers were breathing a sigh of relief after 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfriend Tsonga declared himself fit enough to play after a back injury scare.
Melbourne - Ana Ivanovic led a trio of seeds to opening-day victories Monday at the Australian Open, with Serbia's former number one defeating German Julia Goerges 7-5, 6-3.
Melbourne - Roger Federer knows he's in tennis for the long haul, now expecting to figure in the sport well beyond the 2012 London Olympics.
Melbourne - Roger Federer was all business at the Australian Open player party, putting in a quick appearance before making an exit out the back door to return to his peace and tranquility prior to his Monday start.
Melbourne, January 18 : Paris Hilton has given up on men - if the heiress' intimate snaps with galpal Cheyenne Tozzi are to be believed.
