Defending Australian Open Women’s Champ Azarenka Cruises Into Round Two

Defending Australian Open women’s champ Victoria Azarenka defeated Johanna Larsson on Tuesday to move through the first round in straight sets, 7-6(2), 6-2.

"She played really well," Azarenka said. "I can't say I was surprised by that, but she really went for her shots today. With these conditions, the ball bounces a lot higher, which suits her. It took me a little bit of time to adapt and find my range and my hitting zone. But she's really a very talented player."

Azarenka will face Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the second round.

The third-seeded Maria Sharapova closed out the opening round of the women’s draw at the Australian Open with an impressive 6-3, 6-4 win over Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Sharapova had never lost in her five previous meetings against Mattek-Sands. Sharapova was playing her first Grand Slam match since losing in the second round of Wimbledon last June. Sharapova will next face Italy’s Karin Knapp, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Paula Ormaechea in her opening round match.

"I was happy just to play out there today, despite the heat or anything," said Sharapova. "I've been out of the game for a while, so I was just happy to be back in that Grand Slam atmosphere."

American Sloane Stephens got off to a rough start in her opening round match, but pulled off the victory over Yaroslava Shvedova to reach round two in Melbourne, after her 7-6(1), 6-3 win in one hour and 43 minutes.

"It was a little rusty start,” said Stephens. “But I didn't panic, which is good. I just kind of got it back together and played some good tennis after that."

At last year’s Aussie Open, Stephens made a deep run into the semifinals, defeating Serena Williams in the quarters before falling to eventual 2013 Aussie Open champ Victoria Azarenka in the semis. In the second round, Stephens will Ajla Tomljanovic, who fought back to defeat Tadeja Majeric, 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-4.

The fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska was pushed to a third set on Tuesday before finally overcoming Yulia Putintseva, 6-0, 5-7, 6-2. Radwanska will face Olga Govortsova in the second round.

The 10th-seeded Caroline Wozniacki needed just 67 minutes to defeat Lourdes Domínguez Lino, 6-0, 6-2 to get into round two. Wozniacki will play American Christina McHale in the second round after McHale’s round one win over Yung-Jan Chan, 7-5, 6-4.

Click here to view the entire 2014 Australian Open Women's Singles draw.