AUZZIE OPEN #AO15 STARTS WITH SHARAPOVA , BOUCHARD , MATTEK – SANDS WIN & IVANOVIC , KERBER , LISICKI ALL LOSE BY GLOBAL CHICK

Written by: Global Chick on 19th January 2015

AUZZIE OPEN #AO15 STARTS WITH SHARAPOVA , BOUCHARD , MATTEK - SANDS WIN & IVANOVIC , KERBER , LISICKI ALL LOSE BY GLOBAL CHICK

epa04568481 Canada's Eugenie Bouchard in action against Germany's Anna-Lena Friedsam in their first round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2015. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Who would be a WTA seed on Day 1 of the Australian Open?

For those souls not hardy enough to wake up/stay up for the opening day, it was quite a spillage of seeds on the first day. Nay – a quarter of the women’s seeds will be heading for a two week vacation at Bondi Beach.

I mean, we know it is an unpredictable Slam just three weeks into the year (gosh is it really only three weeks) but the results threw up some surprising early casualties.

Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic in action against Czech Republic’s Lucie Hradecka during their first round match for the Australian Open tennis tournament at Hisense Arena in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament runs from 19 January to 01 February 2015. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Ana Ivanovic seemed to be our favourite pony to make a gallop into the second week, but not so, as she buckled after a quick start. Over the past year there has been a pleasing change up in her approach on court, an increased aggressive stance, the ever present free-wheeling fist-pump but it was all at sea for the Serbian as she seemed lost, as though she wandered onto court while hunting for the Aussie cheering armies at the nearest beer tent.

“I think the whole match I didn’t really feel like myself out there. I had some issues. You know, it’s probably the worst thing that could happen,” she said.

Angelique Kerber was another casualty at a time having fought back admirable against Irina-Camelia Begu, she collapsed like a soufflé in a draught in the final set, as the Romanian secured a 6-4 0-6 6-1 win.

Another one of our ones to watch… is not anymore, as Lucie Safarova joined the line of players collecting their first round pay cheques. The Wimbledon semi-finalist has been playing some great tennis but she could not quite make it over the finish line, as Yaroslava Shvedova downed the 16th seed 6-4 2-6 8-6.

Even Maria Sharapova was not completely immune – suffering a teeny wobble against birthday girl Petra Martic, who fought back from 2-5 down before losing the first set 6-4 and giving up the second 6-1. Sharapova admitted though that the pressure is on for the stars, perhaps more so in the opening rounds.

“You get really inspired opponents that are not seeded in the first round or that are coming from qualifying, and everyone’s eager to do well in this type of environment. You can’t ever underestimate their potential and how they can play. They’re going to fight till the very last point.”

Russia’s Maria Sharapova plays Croatia’s Petra Martic in their first round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2015. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

She continued: “There were quite a few upsets today. Of course I was very well aware of that. I watched some of it on TV. I had a long day before my match. I certainly didn’t want to be one of them.”

World No. 1 and five time champion Serena Williams has admitted she has not had the perfect preparation ahead of this year’s Australian Open, and her recent experiences at the Australian Open have no doubt feeling as happy as a kangaroo with blisters (hopping mad, for those of you at the back not paying attention).

Let’s hope the seeds don’t scatter quite as much on Day 2.

Topics: Ana Ivanovic, Angelique Kerber, AO15, Auzzie Open, BETHANIE Mattek-Sands, Genie Bouchard, global chick, Maria Sharapova, Sabine Lisicki, Tennis, Wta

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January 19, 2015 at 10:09 am

#AustralianOpen #AO15 STARTS WITH @MariaSharapova, @geniebouchard, @BMATTEK WIN & IVANOVIC, KERBER, LISICKI ALL LOSE..http://t.co/YYOeaLj1Nc