Australia Open records first major upset

The first grand slam of the year is up and running and some big guns are surprisingly already being sent packing right from the First Round.

The major casualty in the first day of action was fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic who lost in three sets to Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka in first big upset of the Australian Open on Monday.

This is Ivanovic’s worst result in a major since 2011.

The former No. 1-ranked Ivanovic, a finalist at the 2008 Australian Open, breezed through the first set in 21 minutes with three service breaks before the 142nd -ranked Hradecka mustered a brave comeback.

There were no hassles for two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray who beat qualifier Yuki Bhambri, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3), to begin another quest to win an elusive Australian Open title.

Murray has reached the final of the Australian Open three times, losing to Roger Federer in 2010 and Novak Djokovic in 2011 and 2013 and he hopes he can get it right this term.

Also, third-seeded Simona Halep continued her strong start to the year with a 6-3, 6-2 first-round win over Karin Knapp of Italy.

In the same manner Tenth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov defeated Germany’s Dustin Brown, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, in a 69-minute first-round match.

Dimitrov had little difficulty advancing to the second round.

There were also opening day wins for Rafael Nadal who record a 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory over Mikhail Youzhny on Monday.