A look at the opening day of the Australian Open tennis championships where most seeded players began their campaign well. (All AFP and AP Images)

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A look at the opening day of the Australian Open tennis championships where most seeded players began their campaign well. (All AFP and AP Images)

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MATCH OF THE DAY: Fernando Verdasco vs Bernard Tomic. Local boy Tomic dug deep as he came from two sets down to oust the experienced Spanish 22nd seed in a four hours-plus thriller on a sweltering Rod Laver Arena.

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Verdasco lost 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 to the 19-year-old.

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STAT OF THE DAY: 81 - number of winners hit by American Bethanie Mattek-Sands in her loss to Agnieszka Radwanska.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I'm completely cool and relaxed about it" — Roger Federer, commenting on his relationship with Rafael Nadal after Nadal criticized Federer's unwillingness to publicly back players in their scheduling and prize money issues with tennis hierarchy.

Federer spent just 1hr 38min on Rod Laver Arena in administering a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 win over the 172-ranked Alexander Kudryavtsev.

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Rafael Nadal brushed aside America's Alex Kuznetsov 6-4, 6-1, 6-1, despite revealing later that he feared his bid for another Australian title was over before it started after suffering searing knee pain ahead of his first match.

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Former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro needed four sets and three hours to reach the second round in overcoming French world number 91 Adrian Mannarino 2-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 on Hisense Arena.

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Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych accounted for Spaniard Albert Ramos in four sets.

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India's Sania Mirza again failed to go beyond the first round as she lost to Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova in straight sets.

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World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki made short work of Anastasia Rodionova 6-2, 6-1.

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Belgium's Kim Clijsters began her Australian Open defence with a straight-sets win over Portugese qualifier Maria Joao Koehler 7-5, 6-1.

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In form Victoria Azarenka was brutal in her win, sweeping aside Briton Heather Watson 6-1, 6-0.

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China's Li Na also sailed through to round two with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Ksenia Pervak.

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Back to Australian Open 2012 photos

Australian Open 2012 Photos

Australian Open: A glance at Day 1's play

A look at the opening day of the Australian Open tennis championships where most seeded players began their campaign well. (All AFP and AP Images)