Australian Open Day 1 Wrap-up: Maria shuts out Maria

The biggest upset on Day 1 at the Australian Open went to Maria Sharapova who was upset by Maria Kirilenko 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 in the first round.

According to Kirilenko, she and boyfriend Igor Andreev wanted to kick off 2010 with a bang.

She did it and now she wants Andreev to achieve the same winning moment when he meets Roger Federer tomorrow.

In the men's singles, Rafael Nadal has no problem overcoming Australian Peter Luczak in straight sets (results below).

Just on day one alone, police has removed 11 people from Melbourne Park for disruptive behaviour and smuggling flares onto the grounds.

This is expected to continue for the next one or two weeks to come.

Here's the full results from the Australian Open singles first round (prefix number denotes seeding):

Round 1 - Men's Singles

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) beat Mardy Fish (USA) 6-2 1-6 6-3 6-3
Bernard Tomic (AUS) beat Q-Guillaume Rufin (FRA) 6-3 6-4 6-4
2-Rafael Nadal (ESP) beat Peter Luczak (AUS) 7-6(0) 6-1 6-4
4-Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) beat Michael Russell (USA) 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-2
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) beat 13-Radek Stepanek (CZE) 2-6 7-6(5) 6-4 3-6 6-4
Wayne Odesnik (USA) beat Q-Blaz Kavcic (SLO) 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-2
5-Andy Murray (GBR) beat Q-Kevin Anderson (RSA) 6-1 6-1 6-2
7-Andy Roddick (USA) beat Thiemo de Bakker (NED) 6-1 6-4 6-4
Florian Mayer (GER) beat Philipp Petzschner (GER) 0-6 2-6 6-4 6-2 6-2
11-Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) beat Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-1
24-Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) beat WC-Jason Kubler (AUS) 6-1 6-2 6-2


Round 1 - Women's Singles

5-Elena Dementieva (RUS) beat Vera Dushevina (RUS) 6-2 6-1
Justine Henin (BEL) beat Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-4 6-3
24-Maria Jose Martinez (ESP) beat Evgeniya Rodina (RUS) 6-0 6-0
12-Flavia Pennetta (ITA) beat Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) 6-3 3-6 6-2
3-Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) beat Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 6-1 6-2
Q-Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) beat Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU) 1-6 7-5 10-8
15-Kim Clijsters (BEL) beat Q-Valerie Tetreault (CAN) 6-0 6-4
Elena Baltacha (GBR) bt Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 6-4 3-6 7-5
Maria Kirilenko (RUS) beat 14-Maria Sharapova (RUS) 7-6(4) 3-6 6-4
Q-Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) beat Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 6-4 4-6 6-2
30-Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) beat Raluca Olaru (ROU) 6-2 7-6(6)
Zheng Jie (CHN) beat Peng Shuai (CHN) 0-6 6-1 6-2
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) beat Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 6-2 6-4
2-Dinara Safina (RUS) beat Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 6-4 6-4
27-Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) beat Jelena Dokic (AUS) 6-1 7-5

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Australian Open 2010 Players Party

We love players' party!

There were two events reported last weekend, the Crown's Players Party and another one at the Long Room.

The Crown's has more star players appearance - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Anastasia Pivovarova and Jelena Jankovic (photos in sequence).

Meanwhile, players who attended the Long Room party were Agnieszka Radwanska, Nikolay Davydenko and wifey Irina, Tommy Robredo, Anabel Medina Garrigues, Jarkko Nieminen, and Samuel and Jarmila Groth.

(Images via zimbio.com, Australian Open website)

Federer & Friends stage fundraiser for Haiti victims

Roger Federer is the one who initiated the fundraiser for the earthquake victims in Haiti last Sunday.

Dubbed "Hit For Haiti", the event raised more than $185k on the eve of the Australian Open.

In this event, Federer teamed up with Serena Williams, Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur.

Their opponents were Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters.

In the end, Federer’s so-called Red Team beat the rival Blue Team 7-6 in their one-set match that lasted an hour and a half.

The teams were named according to the colours of Haiti’s flag.

(Via AP; Image by William West/AFP/Getty Images)

Malaysian Open Women's Tennis 2010: Key players announced!

The Malaysian Tennis Classic 2010, which is part of the Sony Ericsson WTA Mini Asian Tour is now officially known as The Malaysian Open.

Thanks to Joash of Carbon Media Management for sending me the press release of this women's tennis tournament as I couldn't make it to their presser due to work commitment.

The WTA event will take place at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort from February 22-28, 2010 right after the Chinese New Year.

The players list released by the organiser, Carbon Media Management are Elena Dementieva, Li Na, Sabine Lisicki, Jie Zheng, Melinda Czink, Magdalena Rybarikova, Jelena Dokic, Sania Mirza, Kimiko Date Krumm, Tamarine Tanasugarn.

Unofficial names of players who may also be gracing the Malaysian shores are Vania King, Chang Kai-cheng, Lucie Safarova and Sybille Bammer.

The tickets are extremely affordable! Regular season ticket only costs you RM328!

You can get your tickets via TicketPro outlets or via their ticketing hotline +603 7880 7999 or website.