Nadal, Murray cruise at Open as Ivanovic crashes

Big guns Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray successfully blasted their way into the Australian Open second round Jan. 19 but the Grand Slam dream of Ana Ivanovic was shattered.
      
Third seed Nadal and sixth seed Murray both enjoyed straight sets wins, with rising stars Simona Halep and Grigor Dimitrov also progressing comfortably on a cool and windy Melbourne day.
      
It was different story for fifth seed Ivanovic, a former world number one who came into the tournament full of confidence after a stellar 2014 that saw her climb the rankings.
      
She started well against unheralded world number 142 Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic, easily winning the first set, but went to pieces during the match, eventually crashing 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
      
"I really struggled to find my rhythm today, I was just a little bit lost," said the stunned Serb, a perennial crowd favourite in Australia where she has family.
      
Ninth seeded German Angelique Kerber also failed to live up to the hype, eliminated in three sets by Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu.
      
World number three Nadal had no such problems and was in full control against Russian Mikhail Youzhny, showing few signs of the injuries that disrupted his 2014 season.
      
The Spanish 14-time Grand Slam champion romped to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win, conceding just one break point on his serve.
      
"A very positive result for me," said Nadal, who missed the end of last year due to appendicitis and has also struggled with ongoing back and wrist injuries.
      
"Always before the first match you have doubts, especially in this situation I'm arriving here.        

"It is never easy and it was an important match for me. It was a comfortable...