Wawrinka off to fiery start with 90-min romp

MELBOURNE – Stan Wawrinka began the defense of his Australian Open title with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Marsel Ilhan on Tuesday, taking less than 1 1/2 hours to breeze through the first round.

Wawrinka was barely tested against the No. 100-ranked Ilhan, striking 34 winners and saving the only two break points he faced.

In a breakthrough 2014 season, Wawrinka claimed his first Grand Slam title, reached a career-high ranking of No. 3 and helped Roger Federer win the Davis Cup for Switzerland for the first time.

He warmed up for the season-opening major by successfully defending his title at the Chennai Open.

“It’s great, bringing me a lot of memories from last year,” Wawrinka said of his return to Rod Laver Arena. “It was great to come back here feeling happy, happy with my game.”

In women’s play, Caroline Wozniacki saved seven of eight break points she faced to withstand a tough challenge from 18-year-old American Taylor Townsend, winning 7-6 (1), 6-2 in the first round.

Townsend hit 30 winners to just 20 for the eighth-seeded Wozniacki, but the No. 99-ranked American also had 34 unforced errors.

Wozniacki reached her second US Open final last year and finished the season ranked in the top 10 for the sixth straight year.

She faces a tough opponent in the second round – two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, who is unseeded this year after missing most of last season with a foot injury.

Wozniacki’s best result at Melbourne Park is a semifinal finish in 2011.

Meanwhile, two other men widely considered to be in the next generation of major winners advanced in straight sets, with No. 5 Kei Nishikori beating Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-2 and No. 8 Milos Raonic firing 30 aces in a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-3 win against qualifier Illya Marchenko.

No. 12 Feliciano Lopez struggled past American wild-card entry Denis Kudla 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 10-8, No. 18 Gilles Simon beat Robin Haase 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 and No. 19 John Isner beat Taiwanese qualifier Jimmy Wang 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4. No. 16 Fabio Fognini lost in four sets to Alejando Gonzalez.

Nishikori, returning to Grand Slam action for the first time since his run to the US Open final, dropped his opening service game but recovered the break quickly and weathered a difficult opening match against Almagro.

Nishikori is coming off a big year in 2014, when he became the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final. He’s determined to go one better and win a major.

“Yeah for sure that was one of my best results in my career that gave me a lot of confidence,” the Japanese star said. “I beat a lot of top 10 players.” (AP)