Federer, Agassi lead way as seeds progress

Champion Roger Federer led an express-speed charge of seeded players through the first round of the Australian Open yesterday, with Andre Agassi also making a confident start after an injury scare.

But former world number one and fifth seed Carlos Moya was a shock casualty on the opening day, falling to little-known fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Top seed Federer raced past Frenchman Fabrice Santoro 6-1 6-1 6-2 in 94 minutes on Rod Laver Arena centre court at Melbourne Park.

"I was nervous going into today's match but I started fantastic," the Swiss champion said. "I feel a bit sorry for Fabrice today."

Four-times champion Agassi, the eighth seed, worked just a little harder as he beat German qualifier Dieter Kindlmann 6-4 6-3 6-0 and eased concern about his hip injury.

"I just pushed through a bit of stiffness, and then I felt like it loosened up nicely and I was okay," he said.

Former women's champion Serena Williams and US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova matched Federer's no-nonsense approach, with Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova and last year's runner-up Marat Safin not far behind.

Resplendent in a translucent white skirt and fluorescent green shoes and top, 2003 Melbourne champion Williams dismissed France's Camille Pin 6-1 6-1 in 57 minutes in the opening match of the tournament on Rod Laver Arena.

Fifth seed Kuznetsova spent even less time on court, storming past American Jessica Kirkland 6-1 6-1 in 43 minutes.

Russian teen Sharapova, the fourth seed, trounced 15-year-old Bulgarian Sesil Karatantcheva 6-3 6-1 before second seed Amelie Mauresmo of France, runner-up in Melbourne in 1999, ended local hope Samantha Stosur's run with a 6-2 6-3 win in her first match of the year.

Safin thrashed Serbian Novak Djokovic 6-0 6-2 6-1 in the last of the centre court night matches. It was the big Russian's first win this year after he lost six matches on the trot in the lead-up and he showed again why he is considered one of the few players with any real chance of beating Federer.

While most seeds prospered, it was a fruitless day at the centenary Open for Moya, runner-up in 1997.

The 1998 French Open champion was beaten 7-5 6-3 3-6 6-3 by Garcia-Lopez, a qualifier playing in only his third grand slam tournament who grew up idolising Moya.

Nothing went right for Moya. Federer, on the other hand, barely put a foot wrong in what amounted to a dazzling start to his bid to become the first man since Pete Sampras in 1993/1994 to win three consecutive grand slam events.

Last year's Australian, Wimbledon and US Open champion was in prime form, showing the benefit of an extended stay in Australia.

Williams, the seventh seed and bookmakers' favourite, won in Melbourne two years ago but was unable to defend her title in 2004 because of a knee injury. She also pulled out of an exhibition tournament in Hong Kong last week with a stomach muscle strain.

Occasionally rusty, Williams doubled-faulted on the opening point of the match and dropped her serve twice against Pin but still had plenty in reserve.