Australian Open: Day one in pictures

Andy Murray, still hunting for his first grand slam title, embarks on his first-round match against South Africa's Kevin Anderson. The Scot could face a tough route to the final – having dropped out of the world's top four, he is seeded fifth
Photograph: Empics Sport

Murray's prefers the hard courts, so the year's opening slam should suit his style and speed. Yet his previous best in Melbourne was reaching the fourth rounds in 2007 and 2009
Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Murray eased through the first two sets against Anderson, dropping only two games
Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

And he went on to claim the third set 6-2, sealing an emphatic win and proving his credentials as a serious contender this year
Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters

No2 seed Rafael Nadal faced Peter Luczak in his first-round match
Photograph: Lucas Dawson/Getty Images

Nadal is a clay court specialist, but he is also the reigning Australian Open champion. He beat Roger Federer in an epic five-set final last year
Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images

Nadal has been dogged by knee injuries and was put through his paces by his opponent, who took the first set to a tie-break
Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

But the Spaniard won the tie-break and then the match, 7-6, 6-1, 6-4
Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Russians Maria Sharapova and Maria Kirilenko were drawn against each another. Sharapova, the 2008 champion, lost the opening set on a tie-break ...
Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images

She did, of course, look the part in her bespoke dress and earrings
Photograph: Lucas Dawson/Getty Images

But the 28-year-old was beaten 7-6, 3-6, 6-4
Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Kirilenko silenced the crowd with the biggest upset of the day
Photograph: Andy Brownbill/AP

The pair clasp hands after the match
Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

A patriotic fan cheers for Nick Lindahl during the Australian's match against Jarkko Nieminen
Photograph: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

Rain clouds loom above the arena as Andy Roddick plays Thiemo de Bakker
Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

Roddick's passage was simple enough ... he won 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
Photograph: Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images

But the showers came and left the surface of some courts waterlogged
Photograph: Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images

It was left to the ball boys and girls to dry an outer court following the downpour
Photograph: Vivek Prakash/Reuters

Croatia's Marin Cilic serves to Fabrice Santoro of France
Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

A seagull interrupts play as Santoro looks to serve
Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

Bandaged, bespectacled and, eventually, beaten ... Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium had the misfortune of facing her compatriot and seven-times grand slam winner Justine Henin in the first round. Henin won in straight sets
Photograph: Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images

Kim Clijsters, who, like Henin, returned to the sport last year, beat Canada's Valerie Tetreault 6-4, 6-0 in the first round
Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images