Top Women's Seeds Advance at Melbourne

Serena, Sharapova, Henin move on in '08's first Grand Slam event
By Mike Buss,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 14, 2008 10:02 PM CST
Top Women's Seeds Advance at Melbourne
Justine Henin of Belgium celebrates her victory over Aiko Nakamura of Japan after their first round Women's Singles match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Stevens)   (Associated Press)

Top seed Justine Henin started the '08 Grand Slam season the way she ended last year's - with a victory; this time with a two-set win over Aiko Nakamura of Japan, reports AP. Defending champion Serena Williams, sporting bright fuchsia on this day, took to the new blue Plexicushion surface at Rod Laver Arena and coasted to a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

"I just got right back into the swing of things," said the always colorful Williams. Other top women's winners were Maria Sharapova (No. 5) and Jelena Jankovic (No. 3). New mom Lindsay Davenport also advanced, improving to 19-1 since returning from her pregnancy. Men's No. 2 Rafael Nadal was victorious while ninth-seeded Andy Murray was tripped up in four sets. (More Rafael Nadal stories.)

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