Tennis: Andy Murray was relieved to have got through his opening grand slam match of the year after doing a “pretty good job” on Robin Haase at the Australian Open today.
Haase represented a potentially tricky first assignment for the world number three but the Dutchman was never allowed to get into his stride as Murray dominated in a 6-3 6-1 6-3 victory.
It was as good a first-round performance as Murray has delivered in recent years and he was pleased with how he coped in the oppressive heat on Rod Laver Arena.
“It was a good start,” he said. “It was very different conditions to what it’s been like the last four, five days. The court was playing different, much livelier.
“But I thought I did a pretty good job from the start — dictating the points and not giving him too many freebies.”
Elsewhere Laura Robson gave herself another crack at a former grand slam winner after easing past Melanie Oudin at the Australian Open, but there was disappointment for Jamie Baker.
Robson beat Oudin 6-2 6-3 to reach the second round in Melbourne for the first time, but Baker could not build on his run through qualifying as he fell to Lukas Rosol.
Robson created waves at the US Open last year with wins over Kim Clijsters — making it the final match in the Belgian’s storied career — and Li Na.
And she will now have the opportunity to face eighth-seeded former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
Baker went down 7-6 (7/5) 7-5 6-2 to Rosol.
Defending women’s singles champions Victoria Azarenka got off to a winning start, seeing off Monica Niculescu 6-1 6-4, while her rival Serena Williams was in ruthless form as she defeated Edina Gallovits-Hall 6-0 6-0.
Swiss legend Roger Federer was comfortable as he beat Benoit Paire 6-4 6-2 6-1.
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