Federer, Serena live up to star billing

Top seeds Roger Federer and Serena Williams lived up to their star billing Tuesday by charging into the Australian Open second round, with Venus Williams and Novak Djokovic hot on their heels.

The Swiss world number one swept home after a sluggish start to eliminate Russian Igor Andreev in four sets while Serena wasted little energy in demolishing Pole Urszula Radwanska 6-2, 6-1.

Also through was in-form Russian Nikolay Davydenko, who laid down the gauntlet by saying the Federer/Nadal dominance was over.

Tenth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga powered on but eighth ranked Swede Robin Soderling was sent packing, the highest seed to fall so far.

World number three Djokovic, the 2008 champion, was tested in the first set by Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver before taking control and racing to a 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 win.

On the women's side, eighth seed Jelena Jankovic and fellow Serb Ana Ivanovic also made the next round.

AFP