- Australian Open, Day One
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British women give Murray a mountain to climb
Jo Carter January 16, 2012
Laura Robson was one of four British women to suffer opening round defeats on Monday
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The sun had not yet set on the first day at the Australian Open, but there was a familiar feeling at Melbourne Park as Andy Murray was left flying the flag for Britain.
Britain boasted six representatives in the singles draw in Melbourne - four women and two men - but before LTA chief executive Roger Draper could get too carried away hailing the progress of British tennis, we were soon brought crashing back down to earth with a bump.
Murray will not be too worried about the exploits of his fellow Brits, but one Murray who will be concerned is his mother. Judy Murray, who was named as Britain's Fed Cup captain last month, was shown the size of the task facing her as she saw all four British women dumped out within a matter of hours.
Murray has already named her team for her first outing as captain in February and all four members of her squad were in action on day one in Melbourne. "Melbourne - 4 seasons in 1 day.....and 4 British women in 1 day!! Let's get this party started," Murray tweeted ahead of the opening day.
But the party was over almost before it had begun as, on a sweltering day at Melbourne Park, all five Brits in action were unceremoniously dumped out without winning a set between them.
First up was Heather Watson. The former US Open girls champion had the daunting task of kicking off proceedings on Rod Laver Arena against world No. 3 Victoria Azarenka, but it was over in a little over an hour as Watson succumbed to a 6-1 6-0 defeat.
Watson was sporting heavy strapping on her left ankle, and she was no match for a supremely confident Azarenka.
"Vika played great and I can't remember her missing a ball. That's why she is number three in the world. But I have to put up a bigger fight than that to get close," Watson admitted after her match.
Soon Britain's hopes were down to four as James Ward bowed out at the hands of Slovenian's Blaz Kavcic. Ward, who had qualified for a grand slam for the first time, was beaten 6-4 6-3 6-4 in a little over two hours.
For Ward, it was achievement enough to be playing in Melbourne, battling through three rounds of qualifying to reach the main draw by right for the first time. Likewise, British youngsters Watson and Laura Robson were not expected to make it into the second round.
Robson was drawn against former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, and the 17-year-old was blown away 6-2 6-0.
Elena Baltacha admitted she was at a loss to explain her defeat to Stephanie Foretz Gacon
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To expect all four British ladies to reach the second round might have been a little optimistic, but Murray Snr would not have been unreasonable to expect Britain's top two women to win their opening ties.
Elena Baltacha was playing a player ranked more than 50 places below her, but failed to win her opening match at a grand slam for the first time since Wimbledon 2010 as she was beaten in straight sets by France's Stephanie Foretz Gacon.
Anne Keothavong followed her compatriot onto Court 11, and she lasted just 21 minutes after she was forced to retire after losing the opening set to doubles partner Mona Barthel. Keothavong subsequently revealed she had been unwell on Sunday and was still feeling under the weather.
Andy Murray is the last Brit standing Down Under - but he must avoid an upset against tricky first round opponent Ryan Harrison on Tuesday to avoid a British whitewash. Murray, who recently appointed former world No. 1 Ivan Lendl as his new coach, is expected to reach round two without too much trouble, but having seen his fellow Brits wilt in the heat in Melbourne, the Scot must be wary of falling at the first hurdle.
For the British women at least, the party is over. And for Judy Murray, she must be wondering what she has let herself in for.
When she accepted the role, Judy Murray joked that sons Andy and Jamie would be relieved that she would not be watching as many of their matches. But with all four British ladies heading home after the opening day at Melbourne Park, Murray will have a familiar face in his box.
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Jo Carter
Jo Carter is an assistant editor of ESPN.co.uk
