Novak Djokovic made a dazzling start to his Australian Open defence Tuesday but his close rival Andy Murray was slower off the blocks and home hope Samantha Stosur became the first big name to fall.
World number one Djokovic powered past Italian Paolo Lorenzi 6-2, 6-0, 6-0, in a victory so comprehensive he even won a point with an audacious trick shot between his legs.
By contrast Murray, runner-up to the Serb last year, was embarrassed by a near-identical party-piece from Ryan Harrison before subduing the American 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Injury-troubled Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt ground out a trademark late-night, four-hour marathon 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win against 83rd-ranked German Cedrik-Marcel Stebe to set up a second-round match with Andy Roddick.
But Australia’s US Open champion Stosur became a major casualty as she froze in front of her home fans, allowing Romania’s Sorana Cirstea to record a famous straight-sets win.
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and glamorous Russian Maria Sharapova, the 2008 Open winner, both started strongly and 2008 runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga went through alongside fellow French seeds Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet.
However, Djokovic looked the pick of the men’s players as the Wimbledon and US Open champion launched his pursuit of a third straight grand slam title in style, exemplified by his crowd-pleasing trick shot.
Leading 3-0 in the third and standing on the baseline, Djokovic turned his back to the court and clipped a shot between his legs to the flummoxed Lorenzi, who embarrassingly netted.
It was a sign of overflowing self-belief in the Serb, who won 10 of 11 finals and went 70-6 last year — despite being derailed by injuries after the US Open — in a season described by some as the best in tennis history. “I just have more confidence that I’m playing on right now. I just believe that I can win, especially against the biggest rivals in the major events,” Djokovic said.
