Intro:

There were early wins for Angelique Kerber and Li Na in the women's draw and David Ferrer in the men's on the first day of the 2014 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Monday (13th January).

Script:

The 102nd Australian Open got under way at Melbourne Park on Monday and in the women's draw there was a minor scare for the number nine seed Angelique Kerber.

After winning the first set against Jarmila Gajdosova, Kerber lost the second 6-0, but eventually prevailed 6-2 in the third to take the match and secure her place in the next round.

Elsewhere Li Na dismissed the youngest player in the tournament, 16 year-old Croatian qualifier Ana Konjuh, 6-2, 6-0 in just 61 minutes

Meanwhile Ekaterina Makarova beat Venus Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to progress to the next round.

In the men's draw, number three seed David Ferrer was up against Alejandro Gonzalez of Colombia and completed a straight sets win, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

It was a solid, rather than convincing start for the Spaniard, who nevertheless recorded a 34th consecutive first round win in a grand slam event.