Top seeds Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic have started their title defences at the Australian Open with straight set victories. Williams, who is chasing her 22nd Grand Slam, defeated Italian Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-5. It was the American’s first match since losing in the semi-final of the U.S. Open in September. But Williams says she needed those four months off.
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Elsewhere, men’s world number one Djokovic beat the 19-year-old South Korean Hyeon Chung 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Former champions Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova will hit the courts later.
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