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Swiatek has now won 53 of her first 65 main-draw Grand Slam singles matches. In the Open Era, only six players had more such wins after their first 65 matches in majors: Margaret Court (61), Monica Seles (60), Chris Evert (57), Martina Hingis (56), Billie Jean King (56) and Tracy Austin (54).

Taylor Fritz, who also reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals last season, fired 32 aces in the victory as he progressed to the second round for the fifth straight year in Melbourne. He won 84 per cent of his first-serve points in the match. The 25-year-old will face either Chun-Hsin Tseng or Australian wild card Alexei Popyrin on Thursday in the second round.

The win was Murray's first Top-20 victory at a Grand Slam in more than four years, which required four hours and 49 minutes to secure the statement result in Rod Laver Arena. He will next face either another Italian Fabio Fognini or the home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, demanded action from the organisers after fans displayed the Russian flag to support Kamilla Rakhimova in her first-round match against Ukraine's Kateryna Baindl.

Sabalenka defeated the 74th-ranked Czech player Martincova in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 in just 1 hour and 9 minutes. Garcia edged Canadian qualifier Katherine Sebov, who was making her Grand Slam main-draw debut, 6-3, 6-0 here at Rod Laver Arena.

Swiatek will face Colombia's Camila Osorio in the second round on Wednesday. A semifinalist in Melbourne last year, Swiatek worked hard in her opener. The 21-year-old made clear before the tournament she was not taking Niemeier lightly, and the German once again proved to be a tough matchup for the World No.1.

The 24-year-old Tsitsipas, who reached the semifinals at the opening Grand Slam of the season in 2019, 2021, and 2022, is chasing his maiden major crown. Should the third seed go all the way in Melbourne, he would also overtake the injured Carlos Alcaraz to become No. 1 in the ATP Rankings for the first time.

World No. 3 Ruud can also claim top spot by reaching the final, as long as neither Djokovic nor Tsitsipas wins the title. If none of those scenarios play out, the reign of current World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, not playing in Melbourne due to injury, will continue, reports atptour.com.

No.135-ranked Fruhvirtova pulled off her second comeback from a set down in as many days, defeating Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 in 2 hours and 53 minutes. No.182-ranked Kudermetova had a more straightforward time, needing only 76 minutes to advance 6-4, 6-2 past Asia Muhammad.

Reigning Roland Garros and US Open champion Swiatek is one of 13 current or former Grand Slam winners who have entered the first major of 2023, which begins on January 16. The Pole, who reached her first Australian Open semifinal this year, will be bidding to add a fourth Grand Slam title to her haul so far.