Sabalenka, Zverev glide into the second round at Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev were the top seeds at play as the Australian Open commenced on a rain-hit day in Melbourne. Meeting expectations, Sabalenka eased past the former US Open champion, Sloane Stephens in straight sets. Sabalenka comes to defend her title and to bid for becoming the first player on the WTA Tour to complete a threepeat since Martina Hingis in 1999. Alexander Zverev, meanwhile, on the lookout for his maiden Grand Slam title opened with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory against France's Lucas Pouille. Other notable contests on the opening day were scripted by Casper Rudd and Kei Nishikori who clinched a thrilling five-set victories over their respective partners.

Australian Open: Sabalenka, Zverev ease into second-round as Ruud, Nishikori clinch thrilling victories on opening day

Alexander Zverev dominated his clash against the former semi-finalist, Lucas Pouille with 37 winners and saving both break points he faced. Zverev clinched the win in two hours and 20 minutes, marking his ninth consecutive appearance in the second round. He now aims to become the first German man to win a major since Boris Becker at the Australian Open in 1996. Zverev will next face Spaniard Pedro Martinez in his campaign. Drawn in the same half as Novak Djokovic and third-seeded Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, Zverev doesn't meet the top-seeds until the semi-finals. However, Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz are slated to face off in the quarter-finals.

On the women’s side, On the women’s side, Sabalenka made a statement in her opening match, racing to a 4-0 lead against Sloane Stephens in the first set. Though Stephens made a brief comeback to break Sabalenka twice and close the gap to 4-3, the Belarusian regrouped and secured the first set with strong net play and her signature aggression. Sabalenka will now face Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro for a spot in the third round. Meanwhile, Olympic champion and the runner-up in Melbourne last year, Zheng Qinwen, advanced to the second round with straight sets victory against Anca Todoni at the Rod Laver arena.

The ATP sixth seed Casper Ruud and former world number four Kei Nishikori fought through the wet conditions to secure hard-fought five-set victories. Kei Nishikori displayed remarkable resilience in his match against Thiago Monteiro. The Japanese star struck 23 winners and committed only eight unforced errors in sets four and five, ultimately winning 4-6, 6-, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 after four hours and six minutes. Nishikori's next opponent will either be Tommy Paul or Christopher O'Connell, with a potential fourth-round meeting against Casper Ruud. Ruud also survived a tense five-set battle, overcoming Jaume Munar 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. The Norwegian will face Czech rising star Jakub Mensik or Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili in the second round.