Fourth seed Barbora Krejcikova led a procession of women’s seeds through to the second round of AO22 on Monday.
The 26-year-old started her pursuit of a second Grand Slam singles title on the right note, easing past Germany’s Andrea Petkovic 6-2 6-0 in just 62 minutes.
The Czech, who has earned mixed doubles glory three times in Melbourne, fired 28 winners to Petkovic’s 12.
“It’s good to be back,” said Krejikova, who is aiming to advance past the round of 64 in Melbourne for the first time in three attempts. “I’m really happy that I’m playing well,” she added, describing her run to the Sydney Tennis Classic final as good preparation for AO 2022.
The right-hander said her off-season training block was good, albeit short, and that her goals 2022 are to win as many matches as possible and stay healthy.
The woman who beat Krejickova in Saturday’s Sydney final, Paula Badosa, joined the Czech in the second round thanks to a 6-4 6-0 victory over Ajla Tomljanovic.
Badosa, who late in 2021 captured the biggest title of her career at Indian Wells, has now won six matches in a row.
That confidence was reflected in the winners tally; Badosa smacked three times as many winners (27-9) past the aggressive Australian to advance in one hour, 22 minutes.
"Coming from two days ago, playing a long final (in Sydney), very intense, it was tough for me mentally and physically,” said the No.8 seed, who next faces Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan.
"I'm really happy that I got through it."
Earlier, fifth seed Maria Sakkari defeated German Tatjana Maria 6-4 7-6(2) in one hour and 45 minutes.
“We all know that first rounds are not that easy,” said the powerful Greek right-hander, crediting Maria’s “tricky” game for making her uncomfortable on court. “It is a privilege that I had my first match [of] the year here on this wonderful court.”
Swiss 22nd seed Belinda Bencic became the first player to win on the new Kia Arena by defeating Kristina Mladenovic 6-4 6-3, leveling her head-to-head record with the Frenchwoman at 4-4.
“I'm very happy with how I managed to kind of stay in the match in the important moments,” said the 24-year-old, who won women’s singles gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and will face promising American Amanda Anisimova in the second round. “For sure she’s in form, but I will try to stop her.”
Elsewhere, 15th seed Elina Svitolina swept past Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro 6-1 7-6(4) to set up a second-round battle with France’s Harmony Tan. The Ukrainian, who married men’s 17th seed Gael Monfils last July, won 14 of 18 net points en route to sealing the one-hour and 32-minute victory.
In the day’s first surprise, China’s Wang Qiang posted a 6-4 6-2 upset over 18th seed Coco Gauff.
The American rising star, who had top seed Ash Barty on the ropes at the Adelaide International, entered the encounter with a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over Wang who is 13 years her senior, but was felled in part by 38 unforced errors.
One of four former titlists in the hunt to again lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, two-time champion Victoria Azarenka sailed through against AO debutante Panna Udvardy 6-3 6-1.
The 24th seed, who had not advanced past the first round in Melbourne since 2016, needed just 65 minutes to dispatch the Hungarian, who hadn’t previously faced a top 50 player.
In a tightly contested all-American affair, Madison Keys converted her third match point to secure at 7-6(2) 7-5 win over 11th seed Sofia Kenin, the AO20 champion.
“It’s absolutely amazing to be back in Melbourne,” said Keys, recollecting that her first deep run at a major came at AO15, when she reached the semifinals. “Obviously my serve was helping me out a lot today,” added the Florida resident who won 84 per cent of first-serve points thanks in part to 15 aces.
“I feel like I’ve really found my rhythm.”
Tunisian ninth seed Ons Jabeur withdrew from AO citing a back injury sustained at the Sydney International.
“I tried everything to be ready and thought I could have recovered in time to play here,” she tweeted. “Unfortunately, the pain is still very present and playing in such conditions could jeopardise my whole season.”