Aussie Open 2012, Day 1

The first day of this year's Australian Open was bathed in glorious sunshine and steaming heat. It saw many of the favourites go through - Federer, Nadal, Ferrer, Clijsters, Azarenka, Wozniacki - and many a Brit fall short - all five British players lost and lost convincingly. 


Watson was the first victim. She started well against Victoria Azarenka, with a service hold and break points against the 3rd seed but once Azarenka held her first game she didn't look back. The heat seemed to be getting to an increasingly frustrated Watson who surrendered the first set in 36 minutes. She started the second brightly with some penetrating shots but Azarenka was in her stride and hitting winners at will. A bagel looked inevitable and thus it proved when Watson made her 27th unforced error and handed Azarenka the game.


Next came Baltacha who was playing a player ranked 53 places lower than the world number 54. She would have been confident of a win over Frenchwoman Foretz Gacon but suffered a terrible start and never really recovered, losing the first set 6-2 and faltering at 4-4 in the second to hand Gacon the break and then the match - 6-2 6-4. She said afterwards that she hadn't felt comfortable on court.


Laura Robson was outclassed by former number one Jelena Jankovic 6-2 6-0. The left-hander looked ill-at-ease from the beginning dropping her serve straight away and losing the second set to another bagel - the second of the day for the British players.


James Ward was beaten solidly by his 103rd ranked opponent Kavcic of Slovakia, 6-4 6-3 6-4. He couldn't find the magical form that saw him reach the semi-final of Queen's last year despite having come through qualifying to reach the main draw of the Australian Open by rights for the first time. Kavcic goes on to play Del Potro in the second round.


Keothavong, Britain's fifth player of the day, faired worst of all against Germany's Barthel, retiring after losing the first set 6-0 with suspected food poisoning - a third bagel set of the day for the Brits. 


So our hopes, once again, rest squarely on Andy Murray's shoulders. Not a bad shout, according to many experts predicting a maiden Slam for the number four seed here. Having reached the final for the last two years, off the back of his victory in Brisbane, and with new coach Llendl breathing life into his game, Murray could produce an Open to remember.


Men's match of the day: Tomic v Verdasco, 4-6 6-7 6-4 6-2 7-5 - Tomic, the young Australian hopeful, came back from two sets down to beat 22nd seed Fernando Verdasco. It was a real hum-dinger of a match with momentum swinging this way and that. Ultimately Tomic handled the pressure better and seemed to relish in the crowd's attention.


Women's match of the day: Radwanska v Mattek-Sands, 6-7 6-4 6-2 - Radwanska found it tough going against the spirited American. The first set could have been either ladies as they traded blows and each had chances to tie it up. It was Mattek-Sands who found the way through eventually taking it 12-10 in the tie break. Radwanska, the 8th seed, broke back in the second set to take it to a decider where she played her best tennis of the match against a wilting opponent. Great match.


On a day that saw eight seeds fall (three women and five men - Panetta, at 19th, the highest ranked) and nine five-setters contested, with temperatures hitting 30 degrees and the wind causing havoc, the Aussie Open has started with a bang.


And what we've all been waiting for, my predictions.
Men's Champion: Andy Murray
Women's Champion: Petra Kvitova


We shall see.


I'll keep you blogged...