Roger Federer defeated Denis Istomin 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 while Rafael Nadal got the better of James Duckworth 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 in the first round of Australian Open.
Maria Sharapova got out of the Melbourne heat as quickly as she could, needing just 63 minutes to beat British qualifier Harriet Dart 6-0, 6-0 in the first match.
Andy Murray lost to 22nd-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open.
World No.39 American beat the Indian qualifier in a match that lasted an hour and 52 minutes.
The 2008 Australian Open champion got play started on Rod Laver Arena and needed only 63 minutes to advance.
Djokovic has six Australian Open titles, a record he shared with two-time defending champion Roger Federer and Roy Emerson.
The Swiss said he was aware of the potential of Istomin, who upset defending champion Novak Djokovic in Melbourne in 2017.
Rafael Nadal said he is nearing fitness and will be ready in time for the Australian Open, which is scheduled to start on January 14.
He said he's considering another hip operation, more to improve his quality of life than as a way of returning to the top level in tennis.
Police say 15 people were arrested, including some of the tennis players, after 11 houses were raided.
Sania recently had her first child with cricketer-husband Shoaib Malik. While the winner of six Grand Slams has started training to make a comeback.
Aiming for a third consecutive Australian championship, a 21st Grand Slam crown and a 100th career singles title, Federer will open against Denis Istomin.
Serena Williams, who won the Australian Open in 2017 while pregnant with daughter Alexis Olympia, returns as the 16th-seeded player after missing last year's tournament.
It was Halep's first match since October after a lengthy layoff due to a herniated disc in her back.
Kei Nishikori defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-4 3-6 6-2 while Karolina Pliskova got the better of Lesia Tsurenko 4-6 7-5 6-2 to win the men's singles and women's singles Brisbane International titles respectively.
It will be the first time Halep has played since the French Open champion ended her season in October due to a herniated disc in her back.
Switzerland took its fourth Hopman Cup title overall when Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic beat Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber 4-0, 1-4, 4-3 (4) in the Fast4 format.
Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan defeated the British pair of Luke Bambridge and Jonny O'Maara 6-3 6-4 to win the Tata Open Maharashtra men's doubles title.
Novak Djokovic lost to Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3 6-7 (6/8) 4-6 to crash out of the Qatar Open.
Osaka turned her quarterfinal around on some coach's advice after losing the first set, but she wasn't able to replicate the pattern against the No. 27-ranked Tsurenko.
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