Osaka, Venus and Serena delight Aussie crowds with opening-round wins

No. 3 seed Naomi Osaka’s nightmare first round turned out to be a sweet dream as she dispatched three-time Australian Open quarterfinalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-1, 6-2, to lead a trio of stars into into the second round in Melbourne.

Osaka delighted the Rod Laver Arena crowd as she gamely answered every question asked by the former world No. 13 in a 68-minute opening salvo.

As play began on Monday, all eyes were on the 2019 champion, who withdrew from the Gippsland Trophy semifinal citing a “niggling” right shoulder injury last week and was, by all accounts, handed a brutal draw.

“I was really nervous coming into this match; I’ve played her before and it was really tough,” she said after the match as she saluted the crowd. “I’m really happy to see people in the stands because it was a bit lonely in New York.

"Throughout the match I was really happy to have fans there," she added in her post-match press conference. "I felt like there was more interaction than in New York because in New York it was just a generic crowd noise every point. Here it felt like they sort of weighed whether I made a mistake and stuff like that."

Ranked No. 39, Pavlyuchenkova narrowly missed out on a seed but has proven her mettle in Melbourne Park, scoring back-to-back wins over former world No. 1s Karolina Pliskova and Angelique Kerber to reach the last eight at this event just last year.

A former No. 1 herself, the reigning US Open champion was dialed into the challenge early on, striking two forehand winners in the opening game to set the tone. The 23-year-old rolled through the first four games and though she ceded a break back to Pavlyuchenkova, she never allowed her experienced opponent to find her footing, serving out the opening set two games later.

“I think physically, everyone’s body is shocked to play matches so suddenly after a long break, but we’re all getting used to it and everyone is happy to be here.”

Osaka ended the match with 18 winners to 11 unforced errors and converted five of seven break point chances to ease into the second round, where her path to a fourth major title gets no easier against former world No. 4 Caroline Garcia. The 2017 China Open champion flew past Polong Hercog, 7-6(6), 6-3, and will play Osaka for the first time.

"I do feel like it did remind me of last year," Osaka said of her Australian Open experience thus far. "That, for me, is something really positive to take in. All in all, I don't know; I haven't walked around the grounds or anything so I don't know what it feels like to be a person in the stands like a spectator, but for me, as a player, it felt pretty normal."

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Following Osaka on Rod Laver Arena was 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, who dropped the first game but dazzled in the end, 6-1, 6-1 against German veteran Laura Siegemund.

"It's getting there," the American said of the atmosphere. "Obviously it's not a full crowd like I'm used to. At the same time compared to last year, it's definitely different. Just to have any sort of crowd, like playing in New York where there was no crowd, it's definitely nice to have some people, a lot of people out there."

Siegemund broke in the opening game but was ultimately no match for the No. 10 seed, decked out in an eye-catching bodysuit inspired by track star Florence Griffith Joyner and in hot pursuit of the all-time Grand Slam record.

"I think the crowd always motivates me, albeit good or bad. There's always something that can get you motivated from the crowd."

Standing between Serena and a spot in the third round is Serbian Nina Stojanovic, who defeated Irina-Camelia Begu in straight sets.

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Within minutes of Osaka’s victory, five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams celebrated her 21st Australian Open appearance with a 7-5, 6-2 dismissal of unseeded Belgian Kirsten Flipkens.

“Winning, it never gets old,” she said plainly during her on-court interview, drawing a mix of laughter and applause from the spectators.

Twice a runner-up Down Under, the elder Williams sister navigated an exchange of breaks with the 2013 Wimbledon semifinalist to ultimately emerge on top of the opening set, riding the momentum to a 92-minute victory on Margaret Court Arena.

"Compared to what we were playing with last year, which is zero, which is huge," she said of the crowds in her post-match press conference. "I am not complaining. It's exciting. I think every single person there was probably in awe to be sitting at a sporting event, as much as I was to have them there.

"Playing in front of the big crowds, it's just atmosphere of course that is super enjoyable. You just can't replicate that without the fans, and I had to live without before I could appreciate it, which is oftentimes the case in life for us humans. I'm appreciative now."

Looking for a 15th trip to the third round, the American will next face 2012 French Open finalist Sara Errani, who shocked No. 30 seed Wang Qiang, 2-6, 6-4 6-4. Wang upset Serena Williams at this very tournament in the third round last January.