MELBOURNE, Australia -- Top-ranked Roger Federer quickly dispelled any thoughts that the new year might bring a letdown by the man who dominated men's tennis last year, blasting 54 winners to win his first-round match at the Australian Open on Monday over France's Fabrice Santoro 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.
Russia's Maria Sharapova plays a shot during her 6-3, 6-1 demolition of Bulgarian Sesil Karatantcheva at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Andre Agassi, always considered a threat despite his No. 8 seeding, worked his way through stiffness from a hip injury that had raised questions over whether he would even be able to begin pursuit of his fifth title at the season-opening Grand Slam.
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