Tennis - Australian Open - Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2018. Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates winning against Tatjana Maria of Germany. REUTERS/Issei Kato
MELBOURNE, January 16 (Reuters) - Highlights of Tuesday's second day of the Australian Open, the first grand slam tournament of the year:
0430 ZVEREV SAILS THROUGH
World number four Alexander Zverev opened with a 6-1 7-6(5) 7-5 first round victory over Italian Thomas Fabbiano.
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Tennis - Australian Open - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2018. Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates winning against Thomas Fabbiano of Italy. REUTERS/Thomas Peter[/caption]
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Tennis - Australian Open - Hisense Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2018. Angelique Kerber of Germany shakes hands with Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany after Kerber won their match. REUTERS/Toru Hanai[/caption]
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Tennis - Australian Open - Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2018. Caroline Garcia of France celebrates winning against Carina Witthoeft of Germany. REUTERS/Issei Kato[/caption]
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Tennis - Australian Open - Hisense Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2018. Johanna Konta of Britain celebrates winning her match against Madison Brengle of the U.S. REUTERS/Toru Hanai[/caption]
0330 QUERREY ADVANCES
American Sam Querrey, a quarter-finalist last year, began his campaign with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez.
0325 SASNOVICH ADVANCES
Brisbane finalist Aliaksandra Sasnovich claimed a convincing 6-3 6-2 win over American Christina McHale.
0320 SHARAPOVA STROLLS INTO ROUND TWO
Former world number one Maria Sharapova, the 2008 winner in Melbourne, progressed to the second round with a 6-1 6-4 victory over German Tatjana Maria.
0245 KERBER EASES INTO SECOND ROUND
Former world number one Angelique Kerber needed a little more than an hour to secure a second round spot, beating fellow German Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-0 6-4.
0220 VERDASCO POWERS PAST BAUTISTA AGUT
Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, a semi-finalist in 2009, recorded 41 winners to upset 20th-seeded compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1 7-5 7-5.
0150 PLISKOVA THROUGH TO ROUND TWO
Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova kept her hopes of lifting a maiden grand slam titles alive with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Paraguayan Veronica Cepede Royg in the first round.
"The first one is always the toughest for me... Hopefully I take it match-by-match and I think I'll have a good chance," Pliskova, who reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne last year, said after the match.
0140 GARCIA SURGES PAST WITTHOEFT
Eighth seed Caroline Garcia overcame big-hitting German Carina Witthoeft 7-5 6-3.
0130 KONTA CRUISES PAST BRENGLE
Ninth seeded Briton Johanna Konta skipped past Madison Brengle into the second round, overpowering the American 6-3 6-1 in 66 minutes on Hisense Arena.
"I am very happy with that match," said the Australian-born 26-year-old. "I knew it would be tough, she gets a lot of balls back and makes her opponents work for it.
0030 PLAY UNDERWAY ON DAY TWO
Play got underway on schedule at 11 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) at Melbourne Park, where the temperature is around 21 degrees with very little chance of rain forecast. Read our preview of the day's action here:
