Defending champion Jennifer Capriati has reached the second round of the Australian Open with a comfortable 6-4 6-1 victory over Croatian Silvija Talaja. However, Anna Kournikova's Australian Open challenge barely got out of first gear as she was sent packing in the opening round 6-2 7-5 by sixth seed Justine Henin.
Top seed and world number one Capriati signalled her intention to fight off all challengers at Melbourne Park with a solid and determined win. She briefly stuttered early in her match against a player who, while currently at 103 in the world, was once ranked as high as world number 18 two years ago. But after edging the opening set she pulled away in the second with some heavier hitting and powerful serves.
"Now being seeded number one and being number one I like the feeling and I want to try and keep it for a while," Capriati said. "I just want to set a new goal for myself and take myself to a new level."
Kournikova's defeat was the latest blow to a player who, despite being one of the most highly-paid in the sport, has yet to win a singles title in seven years of trying. Henin's straightforward victory highlighted the many weaknesses in Kournikova's game. "Well, I think I wasn't playing well in general," the Russian said. "Now I feel good physically I have to play more matches."
Fourth seed Kim Clijsters put aside the disappointment of her boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt's shock Australian Open first round loss to crush Australian wild card Christina Wheeler 6-2 6-1.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
