MELBOURNE, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Roger Federer and Andy Roddick both won their first-round matches Monday on Day 1 at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Switzerland's Federer, the tennis tournament's defending champion handled German Bjorn Phau 7-5, 6-0, 6-4 in straight-sets at Rod Laver Arena.
American Roddick, the former world No. 1 player, needed four sets to oust French wild card Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-7 (18-20, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-3.
In other matches, Mardy Fish of the United States downed fourth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 6-4. Ljubicic reached the quarterfinals at least year's Australian Open.
Federer, who won Australia, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2006, will meet Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden in Wednesday's second round match. Roddick takes on Marc Gicquel of France.
Last year's runner up, 11th-seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis beat Rainer Schuettler of Germany, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a first-round match.
