Beauty and the boost, as Federer hits web
Roger Federer had so little idea about his first-round opponent, Alexander Kudryavtsev, that he had to ask fellow players and scour the Internet for tips.
Stories from Day 1 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
Federer turns Internet explorer
Roger Federer had so little idea about his first-round opponent, Alexander Kudryavtsev, that he had to ask fellow players and scour the Internet for tips. "I heard a few things and there was a few things on the Internet I was trying to see. I think I saw him playing in a grasscourt tournament, I was just trying to make sure he was the same guy - and he was!" Federer said. "I wasn't sure about his favourite shots - and I'm still not sure!" Federer destroyed the Russian 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr 38min, pulling out his party piece of an outrageous through-the-legs shot in the closing stages.
Azarenka gets Chinese boost
Belarusian Victoria Azarenka revealed her win over Chinese star Li Na in the final of last week's Sydney International had given her profile an unexpected boost. Speaking after her 6-1, 6-0 win over Englishwoman Heather Watson on Monday, Azarenka said she was now being recognised by at least one section of the community. "After beating Li Na a lot of Chinese people have started to recognise me. I was in a Chinese restaurant the other day and they knew me. They said, 'You beat Li Na'," she recalled with a laugh.
You beauty! Comeback Casey wins
Aussie wildcard Casey Dellacqua returned to the court from the commentators' box after a string of injuries, and beat Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski 6-3, 6-2. The 26-year-old also studied beauty therapy during her time away from the game and appeared in Melbourne with newly dyed hair - meaning nobody recognised her in the players' lounge. "No, which is good," she said, when asked if the other players spotted who she was. "I like it that way. I get bored. Some girls like to, I don't know, go shop. I just style my hair or just find different things to do."