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Journalism of Courage
A bitter drugs controversy embroiling Russian star Svetlana Kuznetsova overshadowed play at the Australian Open today as the big guns cruised through in first-round matches.
Former US Open champion Andy Roddick, World No 1 Lindsay Davenport, French Open champAnastasia Myskina and American star Venus Williams led the way into the second round as the form book held sway.
In the men’s draw, second seed Roddick had too much firepower for Iralki Labadze, overwhelming his Georgian opponent 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 in bright afternoon sunshine on the Rod Laver Arena. Roddick now faces Greg Rusedski in the next round after the Briton ousted Sweden’s Jonas Bjorkman 2-6, 6-4, 6-0, 7-6 (9/7).
Other men’s seeds to go through included Argentinian number six Guillermo Coria, a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 winner over Czech Tomas Berdych.
He was joined by compatriot Guillermo Canas, seeded 12, who defeated Chris Guccione of Australia 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), while French 14th seed Sebastien Grosjean came through against compatriot Michael Llodra 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
The women’s draw followed a similar pattern, with third seed Myskina setting the trend in her 6-1, 6-4 victory over Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic.
Eighth-seeded Williams overcame Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-1, 7-5.
