MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)—Dinara Safina had a 6-4, 6-4 win over Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia on Monday to start what she hopes will be another run to the Australian Open final.
The second-seeded Safina made 30 unforced errors and was erratic at times, but had no serious problems handling No. 47-ranked Rybarikova in her first match at Melbourne Park since a lopsided loss to Serena Williams in last year's final.
I'm really happy to be back,'' said Safina, whose brother Marat Safin won the 2005 Australian title.People here, they love my brother, so thanks for giving me the same support you give my brother.''
It was the first completed match of the tournament, contested on one of the two covered courts. Matches on outside courts were delayed 45 minutes by rain, a change to the heat that usually confronts players at the first Grand Slam event of the season.
Maria Sharapova, who won the 2008 Australian Open but was unable to defend the title last year after surgery on her right shoulder, opened the program at Rod Laver Arena - the main court at Melbourne Park - against fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko.
Safina is only one tournament into a comeback from a back injury that forced her out of the season-ending championship in October.
It's still the beginning of the year and you're still trying to find yourself,'' she said.She's a very tough player and I'm very happy that I won.''
Kim Clijsters was due to play after Sharapova against Valerie Tetreault of Canada. Clijsters won the U.S. Open in September in her third tournament back from time off after getting married and having a baby.
Justine Henin, a seven-time major winner, makes her Grand Slam comeback against fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipkens at Hisense Arena, the other main show court. Henin lost to Clijsters at the Brisbane International on Jan. 9, her first tournament since she quit while holding the No. 1 ranking in May 2008.
Serena Williams has won three of the seven majors since Henin last played the Australian Open. Williams enters this tournament as defending champion and winner of the season-ending championship, but won't play until Tuesday in the top half of the draw.
U.S. Open winner Juan Martin del Potro, No. 5 Andy Murray and No. 7 Andy Roddick highlight the early men's action. Del Potro withdrew from an exhibition tournament at Kooyong last week because of an injured wrist, but his agent said he's expected to be fine.
Nadal, who beat Roger Federer in five sets in the final last year to win his first major on hardcourts, will start the night session at Rod Laver Arena against Australian Peter Luczak.
Federer also doesn't start until Tuesday, along with No. 3 Novak Djokovic, the 2008 Australian Open champion who wonders if the old order is about to be shaken.
Federer and Nadal have dominated Grand Slam tournaments, winning 17 of the last 19 majors between them, but Djokovic suspects change may be coming.
It's getting very interesting, men's tennis,'' he said.It's good for the sport to have a good group of the players that are able to win. I think over the years this can be one of the most exciting Grand Slams.''
Djokovic upset Federer in the Australian semifinals two years ago en route to the title.
The only other player to interrupt the Federer-Nadal domination, which started at the 2005 French Open, was del Potro. He beat Federer to win the U.S. Open in September.
Djokovic, ranked No. 3, said del Potro's win had given players a confidence boost.
The last five, six years the dominance was obvious from Federer, Nadal. They've been winning all the Grand Slams they've played. But now in last two years or so the things are changing a little bit,'' Djokovic said.You have del Potro, Murray, Roddick, Davydenko. They're all in great shape, great form.
It's good for us, the group of the players that is trying to catch up,'' Djokovic added.We have more belief that we can win Grand Slams.''