Australian Open 2013 - the best images

The sun was out in Melbourne as the tournament got underway. A heatwave is currently raging across Australia and temperatures in Melbourne are expected to rise into the 40s later in the week Photograph: Marianna Massey/Getty Images

Defending champion Novak Djokovic was one of the biggest names on court. His opening round match was against Paul-Henri Mathieu of France and he eased to victory in three sets: 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

Britain's Heather Watson was also in action. She faced Romania's Alexandra Cadantu, to whom she lost the first set 2-6 Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

There was a full house as Li Na of China faced Sesil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan Photograph: David Crosling/EPA

Luckily for Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia and Ashleigh Barty of Australia, their court was enveloped in shade Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Cibulkova had to contend with a rather inconvenient ponytail blocking her sights, but eventually won 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 Photograph: Joe Castro/EPA

Venus Williams had the good sense to tie back her hair. She crushed Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-0 and is on course for a third round meeting with maria Sharapova Photograph: David Crosling/EPA

Maria Sharapova of Russia was flawless as she beat her compatriot Olga Puchkova 6-0, 6-0
Photograph: Chen Xiaowei/Xinhua Press

Michelle Larcher De Brito, aka 'the screamer', couldn't find her service rhythm in her first round clash Photograph: Lucas Dawson/Getty Images

Watson, meanwhile, fought back in her contest with Cadantu, claiming the second set 6-3 Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

Roger Federer was out on the practice courts for a while, drawing many spectators Photograph: Lucas Dawson/Getty Images

Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine was out there too, making his way through a stack of balls Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters

Some spectators watched as much tennis as they could ... Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

Others took time out for a quick nap Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

The heat faded as the sun began to set Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters

Watson walked from her court with a smile on her face after a remarkable comeback. Britain's young No1, who is ranked 50th in the world, beat her opponent, ranked 91st in the world, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

In the next round she will face Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan, who beat Mona Barthel of Germany Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Clay specialist David Ferrer of Spain enjoyed a straight sets win over Olivier Rochus of Belgium Photograph: Joe Castro/EPA

Home favourite Lleyton Hewitt of Australia had a tough first round draw against Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia Photograph: Marianna Massey/Getty Images

Hewitt, the beaten finalist in 2005, was as animated as ever Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

... but Tipsarevic won in straight sets, 7-6, 7-5, 6-3 Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia also booked her place in round two by beating Melinda Czink 6-2, 6-1 Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images