Nadal and Del Potro begin with right foot in the Australia Open

Rafael Nadal, second place in the Australian Open tennis, and Juan Martin del Potro, fourth favorite, started with good foot grand slam to achieve victories in the first round of the competition, now in Melbourne.

Del Potro and Nadal were imposed, respectively, local Peter Luczak 7-6 (7 / 0), 6-1, 6-4, and by United States Michael Russell, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6 -2, while Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, eleventh favorite, also signed a victory in his debut against Belgium's Olivier Rochus, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

In the remaining games highlights of the first round, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick, other favorites of the tournament, topped the first round after beating, respectively, the South African Kevin Anderson, 6-1, 6-1 6-2 and Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

In the women, Maria Sharapova (No. 14) was removed from his post by compatriot Maria Kirilenko, first time this happens to one in the global exnumber Grand Slam tournament.

The rain disrupted the matches played in the open, and so several of the women's race meetings, including who was to play Serbia's Jelena Jankovic, were postponed for tomorrow.