There have been no major upsets so far on the opening day of the first Grand Slam event of the new season. Defending champion and sixth seed Andre Agassi is through to the second round after comfortably beating Czech Jiri Vanek 6-0 7-5 6-3. Second seed Marat Safin is also through, although he found it somewhat more difficult to overcome Spaniard Galo Blanco. The 20-year-old Russian beat Blanco in four sets 6-4 1-6 6-4 7-6 and was pleased with his victory. "Galo's a very tough player - he beat Patrick Rafter in the first round of the US Open - and he played some unbelievable shots in that second set. But in some important moments I played very good and I'm satisfied with my game," said Safin.
Third seed Pete Sampras didn't have it too easy either against Slovakian Karol Kucera. Sampras took the first set 7-6 but was made to work for it. In the second, Kucera displayed some impressive skills to break the American's serve and win it 6-3. But Sampras, never one to give up easily, fought back to take the third set 6-4 and stole the fourth set with a tie-break victory to earn himself a place in the next round.
British number one Tim Henman, suffering from a bad cold, had a bad start against Hicham Arazi of Morocco but eventually triumphed 7-6 6-4 6-2. "To win in straight-sets is good for confidence," said the eighth seed afterwards. "It was a tough test and that first set was critical, even though I think I could have come back even if I had lost it." Also through in the men's competition are ninth seed Juan Carlos Ferrero, 12th seed Pat Rafter and 13th seed Cedric Pioline.
In the ladies' event, one seed has been knocked out in the first round - Slovakian Janette Husarova has beaten 11th seed Chandra Rubin 6-3 6-0. Meanwhile, Russian beauty Anna Kournikova delighted her army of fans by reaching the second round with a 6-2 7-5 victory over Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova. Monica Seles had an easier opening match than most when her opponent, fellow American Brie Rippner, twisted her ankle early in the first set and was forced to retire. Jennifer Capriati had to work much harder for her victory. She came from a set down to beat Slovakia's Henrieta Nagyova 4-6 6-2 7-5. Fourteenth seed Sandrine Testud is also through to round two after a 6-1 6-0 victory over Spaniard Maria Antonia Sanchez Lorenzo, as is 15th seed Conchita Martinez.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
