Australian Open, Day 1: Sharapova, Djokovic roll
The opening few days to the Australian Open are interesting for sports fans. The tennis world is focused on the first big tournament of the year that just so happens to be a major, and while we've seen some of the big guns play over the past few months, it seems like an eternity since the 2012 U.S. Open.
But nothing super surprising usually happens in the early matches in the first week of Melbourne. Here is our Day One recap.
Maria Sharapova tosses out doughnuts -- Sharapova bucked her Grand Slam drought last year at the French, completing the career Grand Slam, and is looking to add to that total at this year's Aussie Open. If her first round is any indication that her game is on point, it could definitely happen. Sharapova took down fellow Russian Olga Puchkova 6-0, 6-0, with Puchkova winning just 23 total points in the match that saw Sharapova rack up six aces and 18 winners.
Novak Djokovic wins 15th straight match at Australian Open -- The defending champ wasted no time taking care of business against Paul-Henri Mathieu, winning 6-2, 6-4, 7-5. It was Novak's 15th straight match win at this event as he looks to win this event for the third straight time, and fourth in the last six years.
Americans have a successful first day -- While the American women are still relevant in the big picture of winning this event (Venus Williams won her match on Monday 6-1, 6-0) it is the American men that are questionable to be successful at any Grand Slam, but things went fine for them in the first round. Sam Querrey, ranked 20th in this Australian Open field, and Ryan Harrison were able to both win their opening matches in four sets.
Along with those men, Madison Keys won her match in straight sets and Tim Smyczek was able to win his match in straight sets over Ivo Karlovic. Of the nine Americans that played on Monday, only three weren't able to advance.
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