Caroline Wozniacki came into Australia with more questions than answers.
Wozniacki, who is the top seed in Melbourne, is the top-ranked woman in the world, but has yet to win a major title. As a result, many of her critics claim that she needs to win a major in order to justify her position at the top.
Without Serena Williams in the draw, this certainly offers her best opportunity at her first major championship, but after starting the season with three straight losses, the Dane looked to be on upset alert with a tricky opponent awaiting her in the first round.
The 20-year-old Wozniacki, however, easily won 6-3, 6-4 against Gisela Dulko in one hour and 41 minutes.
Wozniacki didn't face a break point in the first set, and she converted her only break point on Dulko's serve to win the set, 6-3. She went on to break Dulko early in the second set, but the 52nd-ranked Dulko broke back to level the set at 4-4. Wozniacki, however, immediately broke Dulko and went on to secure the set and the match.
Much like Wozniacki, the second seed and tournament co-favorite Roger Federer cruised to victory in his first round match against Lukas Lacko, which he won 6-1, 6-1, 6-3.
Federer was playing fairly aggressive and his shot making was on point as he sailed winners past Lacko left and right. Lacko gave everything he had against Federer, but it didn't even phase the defending champion.
In other news, 12th-ranked Gael Monfils escaped in five sets against Thiemo de Bakker, whereas 18th-ranked Sam Querry was upset by Lukasz Kubot in five sets.
The seeds are holding form, thus far, on the women's side. 14th-ranked Maria Sharapova, sixth-ranked Francesca Schiavone, ninth-ranked Na Li, 30th-ranked Andrea Petkovic, 29th-ranked Dominika Cibulkova and 20th-ranked Kaia Kanepi have all advanced to the second round.
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