World Number 29 Casey Dellacqua cruised into the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-4 6-0 win yesterday over Austria’s Yvonne Meusburger in just over an hour.
As the temperature reached 30 degrees on Margaret Court Arena, the 29 year old needed six set points to claim the first set before stepping on the gas in the second set, not losing a game.
“It’s nice to get the win, I was actually pretty nervous coming out here today” she told Channel 7.
“You always want to come out here in the first round and feel your way through and things got better and better and it’s really nice to be back out here on Margaret Court Arena again.”
The 29 year old is trying to repeat last year’s performance where she reached the fourth round for the second time.
“I love playing in Australia but I want to perform and I want to perform well.
“I was a bit nervous but I think a bit of nerves is good because it means I’m ready to go, so it’s nice to just get out here and play the first one and kind of settle in to the tournament.”
A fan favourite at Melbourne Park, the West Australian faces a tough task next against exciting American Madison Keys who was also a straight sets first round winner.
The second round clash is set to be a lot tougher with Keys ranked #35 in the world.
Compared to former grand slam winner Lindsay Davenport, Keys narrowly missed out on being seeded but Dellacqua believes she is in good enough form to get the job done, especially with the home crowd on her side.
“Most of the year we’re away and we get most of the crowd against us so it’s nice when you’re at home to get all the crowd support behind you.
“The crowd helps to get you through.
“Obviously all us Aussies are out here trying to have a red hot crack.”
Dellacqua dominated the winners count with 25 – 7 and also had the upper hand in the unforced errors, committing 20 to Meusburger’s 26.
She will hoping to increase her first serve efficiency in the second round after going at just 50% for the match.
Unfortunately fellow Emageo representative Oliva Rogowska fell in straight sets to world number 96 Nicole Gibbs.
After getting off to a fast start claiming the first two games of the match, the Australian struggled with unforced errors, leaving her emotional after the match.
“I’m pretty dark at the moment. I completely fell apart today,” Rogowska said.
“Defending points, dropping in the rankings again and having to climb back through the rankings, it’s tough,” she said.
Rogowska will go back to the drawing board to try and find out just went wrong after feeling as though she was in good form pre-tournament.
“Playing in front of family and friends, it’s disappointing if your performance isn’t the best.
“This (loss) is one of the hardest.”
It isn’t the end of her Australian Open though with Womens doubles to come with fellow Aussie Monique Adamczak.