Australian Open 2014: Federer and Azarenka into second round
Roger Federer overcame stifling heat as his bid for a fifth Australian Open title began with a routine victory against James Duckworth.
The Swiss, 32, swept the Australian aside 6-4 6-4 6-2 and is joined in round two by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga , who beat Filippo Volandri 7-5 6-3 6-3.
Defending women's champion Victoria Azarenka toiled but was too strong for Johanna Larsson, winning 7-6 6-2.
Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki also made it safely through.
The Dane beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-0 6-2 in just 66 minutes.
It was a much less enjoyable day for John Isner , though, as the 13th seed retired injured from his match against Martin Klizan.
The American hurt his right ankle at the Hopman Cup exhibition event at the beginning of the year but won a tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, last week. However, he withdrew at 30-0 down in the third after losing the first two sets.
Temperatures reached 37C in the morning on day two and could rise above 40C later, when British number one Andy Murray and top seed Rafael Nadal will be among those in action.
Rod Laver Arena
Azarenka (Blr) [2] beat Larsson (Swe) 7-6 6-2
Azarenka's quest to become the first woman since Martina Hingis (1997-99) to win three consecutive Australian Open titles began slowly as she struggled against world number 91 Larsson.
Larsson twice served for the first set but, after squandering opportunities at 5-4 and then 6-5, the Swede was punished as the second seed stepped up a level, winning the tie-break before breaking in the third game of the second set to assume complete control.
"It was a tough first set," said Azarenka. "The first match can often be tricky and the weather was not helping. It was important to win that first set and I really found my rhythm in the second set."
Federer (Swi) [6] beat Duckworth (Aus) 6-4 6-4 6-2
Seppi (Ita) [24] v Hewitt (Aus)
Nadal (Spa) [1] v Tomic (Aus)
Mattek-Sands (US) v Sharapova (Rus) [3]
Hisense Arena
Wozniacki (Den) [10] beat Dominguez Lino (Spa) 6-0 6-2
Wozniacki wasted no time in making it through to round two, a relief for the Dane given the soaring temperatures. "Geez, it feels hot out there," she said. "It feels like I was sweating in a sauna.
"It's really tough. I was just trying to take the ice towel as much as I could and try not to think about the heat, like I was in Alaska or something."
Tsonga (Fra) [10] beat Volandri (Ita) 7-5 6-3 6-3
Radwanska (Pol) [5] v Putintseva (Kaz)
Murray (GB) [4] v Soeda (Jpn)
Margaret Court Arena
Halep (Rom) [11] beat Piter (Pol) 6-0 6-1
Schiavone (Ita) v Cibulkova (Svk) [20]
Jankovic (Ser) [8] v Doi (Jpn)
Williams (US) v Del Potro (Arg) [5]
Harrison (US) v Monfils (Fra) [25]
Feeling the heat
"I put the bottle down on the court and it started melting a little bit underneath, the plastic, so you knew it was warm." Caroline Wozniacki.
"It's pretty hot. When I went out on the court I was curious what the temperature was because, even though it was windy, the wind was hot wind. I said 'just don't blow' because it makes it even hotter. 'Just stop.' Victoria Azarenka.
For a gallery of the best pictures from day two, check out the BBC Sport Facebook page.
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