Australian Open 2019 Day 2: Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams ease into second round

The second day of the Australian Open 2019 dawned bright with the promise of quality tennis in full swing. The first day of the tournament had left us with a bittersweet feeling as the morning had begun with straight-set victories for Rafael Nadal and concluded in the night with another straight-set win for defending champion, Roger Federer.

But it also had a very sentimental and grueling match in between which had Andy Murray trying his level best to ward off the challenge of Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut, who gave the retiring Scot a hard time before Murray succumbed to Bautista's powerful and fit playing style.

Day 2 of Australian Open began with World Number 17 and 2018 Australian Open quarter-finalist Madison Keys opening her campaign against Australia's Destanee Aiava. Keys, was at her usual best and emerged victorious in a swift 6-2,6-2 encounter.

The key attraction in the Morning Session match was that of Serena Williams. The 2017 Australian Open was the last time the American had competed in the Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific. Serena considers that year and the 23rd Grand Slam title win that year as her most special achievement for she was around 8 weeks pregnant while participating in the final and acing it against her sister, Venus Williams in the classy final.

The fans along with all of Melbourne Park were incredibly happy to have Serena back. Now a mother to a young daughter, Serena began her quest for an eighth Australian Open title and a 24th Grand Slam as she badgered past Germany's Tatjana Maria in simply 49 minutes. Delivering a pure masterclass in tennis, Serena left Maria, who is also a mother to a 5-year-old, struggling with her service. The younger Williams roared and announced her arrival in Melbourne as she won 6-0, 6-2 against Maria.

On the other hand, World Number 4 and 2018 US Open Champion Naomi Osaka came through in an easy 58-minute straight set encounter against Poland's Magda Linette in 6-4, 6-2. The 21-year-old Osaka, who is touted to be the next big thing on the circuit, held her own and sailed through to the second round of the tournament.

World Number 1 Simona Halep was put through a difficult time in her campaign-opener match against Estonia's Kaia Kanepi. The finalist of the 2018 Australian Open, Halep was shocked in the first set when Kanepi got the better of her in a tie-break.

But the 27-year-old Romanian recovered quick when she stepped up her game in the successive sets to seal the match and go into the 2nd round. Halep overcame Kanepi's hurdle in 6(2)-7(7),6-4,6-2. Venus Williams also had some difficulty in her first match but somehow managed to emerge victorious over Mihaela Buzarnescu in 6(3)-7(7),7(7),6(3),6-2. World Number 7 Karolina Pliskova too breezed into the second round in 6-2, 6-2 against K. Muchova.

The upset came in the match between Victoria Azarenka and Germany's Laura Siegemund. Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion in the consecutive years of 2012 and 2013, has been struggling with her form of late and couldn't find her usual rhythm in today's match. The Belarusian former World Number 1 fell to Siegemund in 6(5)-7(7),6-4,6-2.

Djokovic canters into Round 2

In the Men's section, there were no unusual upsets and things progressed well after a bittersweet first day owing to Murray's loss and impending retirement looming near. World Number 4 Alexander Zverev was at his top-notch best as he saw off Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene in straight sets. Zverev took a little less than 2 hours to finish up his business on the Rod Laver Arena and outclassed Bedene in 6-4,6-1,6-4.

In the star match of the day was World Number 1 Novak Djokovic, who is riding on the high of having won the Wimbledon 2018 and the US Open 2018 and is on the lookout of being the first man to win a seventh Australian Open title here in Melbourne Park.

The Serb was broken early into the match against American Mitchell Krueger, but he recovered his composure quickly enough to get a straight set win in 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Krueger gave a stiff competition but he was simply no match for the determined Djokovic!

Day 3 of the tournament will have the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer putting their best foot forward in the 2nd Round of the Australian Open and hopefully, there will be no major upsets on the board!