Anna Kournikova won her first grand slam match in two years on Monday, sweeping past Henrieta Nagyova 6-1 6-2 to reach the second round of the Australian Open.
The Russian blonde, a Wimbledon semi-finalist on her debut in 1997 and winner of two grand slam doubles crowns, is best known these days for never having won a singles title in her seven-and-a-half year professional career.
On Monday, though, she showed her pedigree against the Slovak on the Margaret Court Arena.
The crowd-pleasing victory sets up a second round clash with Justine Henin-Hardenne -- her conqueror in the first round here last year.
The fifth seed breezed into the second round with a 6-3 6-4 win over Switzerland's Myriam Casanova.
The newly married Belgian proved too slick for a workmanlike Casanova on Melbourne Park's Vodafone Arena.
Casanova had won the pair's last meeting -- on Filderstadt's hard courts last year -- but Henin-Hardenne opened up a gulf of class between them on Monday.
Flicking winners to every corner of the court, Henin-Hardenne ran the Swiss ragged until Casanova's cheeks resembled the Belgian's bright red outfit.
While Henin-Hardenne advanced comfortably, Spain's Tommy Robredo became the first seeded casualty, falling 5-7 6-0 6-3 6-4 to wily Wayne Ferreira.
The 26th seed struck first in the match but was rocked back on his heels by the 31-year-old in the second set as Ferreira tore through it without losing a game.
Robredo never recovered as Ferreira, a semi-finalist here 11 years ago, rode to victory.
Former runner-up Thomas Enqvist also fell at the first hurdle, falling 7-5 7-5 6-2 to Argentine Gaston Gaudio.
© 2025