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Radwanska, the defending champion, cruised through the first set without facing a break point, but struggled in the final two sets, dropping serve five times to the 103rd-ranked wild card entry.

The Pole relied on her strong defense to close out the match in just under 2 1/2 hours, chasing down a well-placed drop shot and hitting a forehand crosscourt winner to set up match point.

In other matches, second-seeded Simona Halep, the 2015 champion, defeated Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 3-6, 6-3; third-seeded Johanna Konta routed Cagla Buyukakcay 6-2, 6-0; and Serbian qualifier Nina Stojanovic took out fifth-seeded Timea Babos 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.

The 14-time major winner has altered his preparation for the Australian Open, hoping a change of venues for the warmup tournaments will bring a change of luck at the season’s first Grand Slam tournament after a shocking first-round exit in 2016.

Nadal kicked off his season with a win in an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi on New Year’s Eve, then headed directly to Australia to fine-tune at the Brisbane International in preference to remaining in the Gulf for the event in Doha.

”I played well in Abu Dhabi … I played three good matches, and that’s important for me,” Nadal said Monday after the brief meet-and-greet with a local politician and a native marsupial. ”I really hope the good matches I played in Abu Dhabi helps me for here.”

The 30-year-old Spaniard is playing in Brisbane for the first time, replacing Roger Federer as the tournament’s male draw card. He has a tricky opener against Alexandr Dolgopolov and, if he gets through that, a potential quarterfinal against top-seeded Milos Raonic, the defending champion.

Nadal is coming off a left wrist injury that curtailed his 2016 season, and thinks the extra time in Australia will help him prepare to win his first major title since the 2014 French Open.

(Dean Purcell/New Zealand Herald via AP, File)

Williams was due to play in evening session against unseeded Pauline Parmentier of France but steady rain made play impossible at the open-air stadium and the first-round match was postponed to Tuesday.

Venus Williams, a former champion in Auckland, is due to play New Zealand wildcard entry Jade Lewis on Tuesday.

In the only main draw matches completed Monday, Lucie Safarova beat Czech compatriot Denisa Allertov 6-1, 6-2 and Kurumi Nara of Japan beat Germany’s Antonia Lottner 6-2, 6-2.

The 17-time major winner missed the French Open last year, ending a run of 65 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments, and hadn’t played competitively since re-injuring his surgically repaired left knee at Wimbledon. But he showed no signs of rust in his 61-minute win over Evans.

”I’d like to live it again. I’m a little bit sad it’s over, because it was so nice out there,” Federer said of his return. ”I was actually quite emotional. When I walked down, I was like, `Oh my God, this is better than I thought it would be.”’

The 35-year-old Federer said it was the kind of feeling he missed the most while he was sidelined.

”I thought for a first match it was great, because my expectations were obviously quite low.”

Belinda Benic was playing Heather Watson later Monday, aiming to give Switzerland an unbeatable lead ahead of the mixed doubles match.

(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

After a heat-enforced 10-minute break leading into the deciding set, Rogers dominated Bouchard to give American women a second victory Sunday in the first round.

Christina McHale also advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Italy’s Sara Errani.

Defending champion and No. 1-ranked Angelique Kerber, who won the Australian Open and U.S. Open last year, and French Open winner Garbine Muguruza, highlight the women’s draw in Brisbane.

Vandeweghe beat Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-2 of Czech Republic before Sock defeated Adam Pavlasek 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to clinch the match ahead of the mixed doubles, which this year will feature the Fast4 format, including a tiebreaker at 3-3, no advantage and gender-to-gender serving.

Hradecka replaced two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova after Kvitova was injured 10 days ago in a knife attack by an intruder in her home in the town of Prostejov. Kvitova is expected to be off the tour for up to six months.

”I played a decently clean match, it’s always going to be a little bit interesting your first time out on the court,” Vandeweghe said. ”A little pre-match jitters but I thought I did a good job.”

The United States has won the Hopman Cup a record six times in the tournament’s 28-year history.

Defending champions Australia, represented by Russian-born Daria Gavrilova and Nick Kyrgios, were scheduled to play a late match Sunday against Spain.

Since hiring Magnus Norman, a former top player, Wawrinka has been a major force at the Grand Slams. He’s fitter than he used to be, with much of the credit going to his fitness coach Yannick Fattebert. Wawrinka’s full-service team has helped him win three Grand Slams over the past three years.

TEAM WAWRINKA:

The Coach Guru – Magnus Norman

Tennis Guru Norman started coaching Wawrinka in 2013. A former world No. 2, Norman has guided Wawrinka to three Grand Slams and his highest ranking of No. 3 in January of 2014.

Assistant Coach – Yannick Fattebert

Fattebert has been a member of the Swiss’s coaching team since 2012. A former professional tennis player, Fattebert was tapped as the assistant coach for the Switzerland Fed Cup.

Cibulkova, who in 2016 won the WTA Finas (her bigggest title) and reached a career high of No. 5), travels with a large entourage that includes her coach, physiotherapist, hubby, parents, and her beloved dogs.

TEAM CIBULKOVA:

The Coach – Matej Liptak

Cibulkova and Liptak joined forces in late 2012. He is the man behind Cibulkova’s success as he’s helped his charge reach the finals of the 2014 Australian Open, win the WTA Finals, and reach No. 5 in WTA rankings.

Federer, who has not played since re-injuring his surgically repaired left knee at Wimbledon in July, will make his tournament return in the Jan. 1-7 Hopman Cup team event at Perth, representing Switzerland with Belinda Bencic.

The 35-year-old Federer said Friday he’s not sure of the form he’ll produce upon his return, but that retirement isn’t part of his thought process.

”Only when I get asked do I think of things like this,” said Federer, who has 17 Grand Slam singles titles, the most of any male player.

”I don’t see it like this, that this could be my last Australian trip, even though it might very well be,” he added. ”I’m really positive. I took these six months off so I would be playing for hopefully another two to three years, not just another six months or so. So my mindset is for the long-term.”

Federer and Bencic begin play against Britain, represented by Heather Wilson and Dan Evans, on Monday night at Perth Arena.

35-year-old Williams shared the good news on Reddit, a social media community platform.

I said yes from isaidyes

Williams accompanied the announcement with a poem:

“I came home /A little late / Someone had a bag packed for me / And a carriage awaited / Destination: Rome / To escort me to my very own “charming” / Back to where our stars first collided / And now it was full circle /At the same table we first met by chance / This time he made it not by chance / But by choice / Down on one knee / He said 4 words / And /r/isaidyes”

WTA congratulated her on Twitter:

In June 2016, the 29-year-old Scot reunited with supercoach Ivan Lendl who had stepped down in 2014 after a successful partnership that resulted in two Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal. Right after reuniting, Murray won his second Wimbledon trophy and another Olympic gold medal.

The Super Coach – Ivan Lendl

Before super coach Lendl joined his camp in December 2011, Murray had never won a Grand Slam. During their partnership, Lendl guided Murray to the finals of 2012 Wimbledon, 2012 Olympics gold medal, 2012 U.S. Open trophy, finals of the 2013 Australian Open, and 2013 Wimbledon Championships trophy. After the two split in March 2014, Murray went through a Grand Slam drought but when they reunited in June 2016, Lendl helped him win his second Wimbledon and another Olympic gold medal.

The Fitness Trainer – Matt Little

Murray is one of the fittest players on tour, credit to his fitness trainer Matt Little. A close friend of Murray, Little is also Lawn Tennis Association’s strength and conditioning coach.

The Swiss superstar can afford to travel with such a large entourage as he is one of the highest paid athletes in the world. According to Forbes, he has lead the list of the world’s highest paid tennis players since 2006. Between June 2015 and June 2016, he earned nearly $68 million from prize money and off-court business ventures such as endorsements, partnerships, and appearance fees (exhibitions, etc).

This means the 88 career titlist can afford to travel in style. Federer and his large entourage use a private jet to globetrot from one continent to the next.

TEAM FEDERER:

The Coach – Ivan Ljubicic

The Grand Slam winner said ”it has been difficult decision to make but there’s so much to celebrate.”

Ivanovic’s Facebook announcment:

Ivanovic’s Twitter statement:

To my dear supporters…. pic.twitter.com/9ycCamNela

— Ana Ivanovic (@AnaIvanovic) December 28, 2016

Player Box: Roger Federer

Thereafter, I followed her swift ascendancy in the women’s game as she became the youngest quarterfinalist at the French Open in 1981 when she was 14 years and two-and-a-half months old. As they say, Rinaldi kept on keeping on, reaching the semifinal of Wimbledon in 1985, finishing 1986 at No. 9 in the world (after rising to a career high of No. 7), toppling the likes of Steffi Graf and Hana Mandlikova over the course of her distinguished career.

But more recently Rinaldi has been deeply devoted to the field of coaching, and has done extraordinary work in that capacity. She currently is Lead National Coach, Team USA—Pro Women for USTA Player Development. In 2012 and 2014, she was coach for the victorious U.S. 16-and-under Fed Cup teams, and she displayed impressive leadership skills in coaching the U.S. women in the 2015 Pan-American Games. Moreover, in 2009 and 2010, Rinaldi coached the 14-and-under American contingents to triumphs in the World Junior Tennis competition. Moreover, back in 2006 when Zina Garrison was the American Fed Cup captain, Rinaldi was the coach for the U.S.

Given Rinaldi’s excellent background as a player and coach, it was unsurprising and fitting that she would be chosen by the USTA to succeed Mary Joe Fernandez as the Fed Cup captain. Her credentials were outstanding. Her reputation as a straight-shooter with unshakable values and a clear-eyed vision of how to handle the captaincy is unassailable. Her fundamental decency and deep integrity are defining traits. Rinaldi is a player’s captain who knows what they need and understands how to provide it.

We spoke by phone last week, and I asked at the outset of our talk if she saw the captaincy coming. How surprised was she when suddenly it was front and center on her agenda?

Replies Rinaldi, “I didn’t see it coming but when Mary Joe stepped down I definitely threw my name in the hat, knowing that it was going to be tough because I am sure there were many worthy candidates for the job. Loving what I have been doing with the USTA and really enjoying the coaching

The Coach – Patrick Mouratoglou

Days after Williams’ devastating 2012 French Open first round loss, she connected with Mouratoglou and the partnership was born. Under his guidance, Williams has won 9 Grand Slams. The 46-year-old Frenchman owns Mouratoglou Tennis Academy that is located in Nice, France, and founded Champ’Seed Foundation in 2014.

The Fitness Guru – Mackie Shilstone

In a trophy that was won on the road, Argentina kicked its campaign against Poland in March. Despite playing without their big gun Juan Martin del Potro, the Argentinians won the tie 4-1.

In July, Argentina faced 1976 champion and six-time runner-up Italy in   Pesaro, Italy in the quarterfinals. In a rainy weekend, Argentina took the tie 4-1.

In September, Argentina traveled to Glasgow, Scotland to face the defending champion Great Britain. The British team, that boasted Andy Murray (2016 Wimbledon champion and Olympic gold medalist) and his brother Jamie Murray (top doubles player), had all the momentum going into the tie.

Murray and del Potro faced-off in the first rubber in what would arguably become the best match of 2016. In an Olympics rematch (Murray defeated del Potro 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the Olympics final match), Del Potro won the tightly contested rubber 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-4. Argentina closed out the tie 3-2.

In the finals, Croatia hosted Argentina in Zagreb, Croatia. Marin Cilic, the highest ranked player in the tie, opened against Argentina’s Federico Delbonis. Cilic took the rubber 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 6-2. Del Potro took the second rubber 64 67(6) 63 75 against Ivo Karlovic to level the tie 1-1.

Djokovic had led their head-to-head 8-1 going into their third round match, but this did not bother the American who came out blasting big serves and forehands. He took the first two sets 7-6(5), 6-4.

Play was suspended due to rain delay and the men had to pick up where they left off the next day. Djokovic came out swinging, running to a 4-0 lead in the third set before another rain delay.

The men resumed play two hours later. Querrey was able to get one of the breaks back but the Serb closed the third set 6-3.

In the fourth set, Djokovic had plenty of opportunities to break but Querrey fought him off. At 4-4, the top seed hit a forehand winner to go up a break 5-4. This was a devastating moment for the 28th seed who had saved 11 break points. Many people thought he was a goner because Djokovic had gained momentum, and had come back from two sets down four previous times, but Querrey wasn’t done yet as he broke back.

At 6-5, the match was once again interrupted by another rain delay. The men came back an hour later and resumed play. Djokovic served and held to take the set to a tie-break. He jumped to a 3-1 lead but that was short-lived as Querrey closed out the match 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(5) on his second match point.

© Copyright Tennis Identity 2016 | Whiting Burgess LLC

© Copyright Tennis Identity 2016 | Whiting Burgess LLC