Naomi Osaka and Venus Williams make strong Australian Open start

The former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka and the former runner-up Venus Williams are through into the second round in Melbourne, making a strong start at the season's first Major.

Osaka ousted the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 6-2 in an hour and eight minutes, dropping only 13 points behind the initial shot and suffering one break. That wasn't enough for Pavlyuchenkova to stay in touch, as she struggled in her games and gave away over half of the return points, allowing Naomi to convert five out of seven break chances.

Controlling the pace with 18 winners and 11 unforced errors, Osaka took the opening four games to settle into a fine rhythm, losing serve after that but securing the opener 6-1. The Japanese was too strong in set number two, served well and delivered two breaks to move over the top in style.

Twenty-three years after reaching the Australian Open quarter-final on debut, Venus Williams can still score impressive wins in Melbourne. The veteran took down Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 6-2 in an hour and 32 minutes, losing serve once from the only chance offered to the Belgian and securing four return games to wrap up the triumph in straight sets.

They traded breaks in games seven and eight of the opener, with a late one at 6-5 for Venus that secured the set for her. The American delivered four commanding holds in set number two and two breaks in games four and eight to move over the top and advance into the second round.