Australian Open: Day one in pictures

Andy Murray, still hunting for his first grand slam title, embarks on his first-round match against South Africa's Kevin Anderson. The Scot could face a tough route to the final – having dropped out of the world's top four, he is seeded fifth Photograph: Empics Sport Photograph: guardian.co.uk Murray's prefers the hard courts, so the year's opening slam should suit his style and speed. Yet his previous best in Melbourne was reaching the fourth rounds in 2007 and 2009 Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Photograph: Clive Brunskill/guardian.co.uk Murray eased through the first two sets against Anderson, dropping only two games Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Photograph: Clive Brunskill/guardian.co.uk And he went on to claim the third set 6-2, sealing an emphatic win and proving his credentials as a serious contender this year Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters Photograph: Tim Wimborne/guardian.co.uk No2 seed Rafael Nadal faced Peter Luczak in his first-round match Photograph: Lucas Dawson/Getty Images Photograph: Lucas Dawson/guardian.co.uk Nadal is a clay court specialist, but he is also the reigning Australian Open champion. He beat Roger Federer in an epic five-set final last year Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Greg Wood/guardian.co.uk Nadal has been dogged by knee injuries and was put through his paces by his opponent, who took the first set to a tie-break Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Photograph: Clive Brunskill/guardian.co.uk But the Spaniard won the tie-break and then the match, 7-6, 6-1, 6-4 Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: William West/guardian.co.uk Russians Maria Sharapova and Maria Kirilenko were drawn against each another. Sharapova, the 2008 champion, lost the opening set on a tie-break ... Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Greg Wood/guardian.co.uk She did, of course, look the part in her bespoke dress and earrings Photograph: Lucas Dawson/Getty Images Photograph: Lucas Dawson/guardian.co.uk But the 28-year-old was beaten 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: William West/guardian.co.uk Kirilenko silenced the crowd with the biggest upset of the day Photograph: Andy Brownbill/AP Photograph: Andy Brownbill/guardian.co.uk The pair clasp hands after the match Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: William West/guardian.co.uk A patriotic fan cheers for Nick Lindahl during the Australian's match against Jarkko Nieminen Photograph: Daniel Munoz/Reuters Photograph: Daniel Munoz/guardian.co.uk Rain clouds loom above the arena as Andy Roddick plays Thiemo de Bakker Photograph: David Gray/Reuters Photograph: David Gray/guardian.co.uk Roddick's passage was simple enough ... he won 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 Photograph: Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Paul Crock/guardian.co.uk But the showers came and left the surface of some courts waterlogged Photograph: Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Paul Crock/guardian.co.uk It was left to the ball boys and girls to dry an outer court following the downpour Photograph: Vivek Prakash/Reuters Photograph: Vivek Prakash/guardian.co.uk Croatia's Marin Cilic serves to Fabrice Santoro of France Photograph: Andy Wong/AP Photograph: Andy Wong/guardian.co.uk A seagull interrupts play as Santoro looks to serve Photograph: Andy Wong/AP Photograph: Andy Wong/guardian.co.uk Bandaged, bespectacled and, eventually, beaten ... Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium had the misfortune of facing her compatriot and seven-times grand slam winner Justine Henin in the first round. Henin won in straight sets Photograph: Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Torsten Blackwood/guardian.co.uk Kim Clijsters, who, like Henin, returned to the sport last year, beat Canada's Valerie Tetreault 6-4, 6-0 in the first round Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: William West/guardian.co.uk