Jonas’ giant challenge

TECHNOLOGICAL EDGE

• Defending women’s champion Amelie Mauresmo became the first player to challenge a line call using a high-tech instant replay system at the Australian Open, with mixed results. The No. 3 twice challenged calls by line judges in her first-round match against American Shenay Perry, seeking a review via giant TV screens set up at center court at the Melbourne Park venue. Her first challenge was upheld, but she lost the second.

“It’s good for everybody, for the players, for the umpires,” she said. “Sometimes they make mistakes or we make mistakes, and it’s very easy to correct. And for the crowd, as well, I think it’s pretty good because they get involved into the decisions, the match.

EXTRA BAGGAGE

• Marcos Baghdatis travels better without an entourage, it seems. Last year, during his run to the final against Roger Federer, the genial Greek Cypriot had only his girlfriend and coach in the stands for most of the tournament. This year, extended members of his family have shown up, some from Cyprus and others who live in Australia. “There’s a lot of pressure — not by media or stuff, it’s more like my group,” Baghdatis said Monday after his four-set, first-round win over Rainer Schuettler. The 21-year-old Baghdatis said he’s been thrown off his rhythm. “I’m not myself,” he said. “It’s not like a normal tournament for me. I don’t have the same routines with my coach and stuff. I will just try to deal with it and try to speak to them and find a way.”

Fishing with confidence

• Mardy Fish rebuilt his forehand and his confidence along with a badly injured wrist that stalled his career in 2005. The work is paying off. The American on Monday ousted fourth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic in the first round.

Fish finished 2003 ranked 20th and in 2004 won the Olympic silver medal and helped the United States into the Davis Cup final before he was hit by hip tendinitis and a wrist problem that needed two operations within four months in 2005. He climbed from 341 in the rankings to finish 2006 at 47, along the way enlisting as coach veteran Todd Martin, who late last year changed his grip and take back to transform an admittedly lame forehand.

“The forehand was terrible,” he said. “I was lost. No confidence whatsoever and I needed to do something. Now it feels great, like just another shot. Feels like I can hit winners off it.”