LEAD: Seeds dominate in Melbourne routs, Stosur slammed

Jan 17, 2012, 5:36 GMT

Melbourne - Top seed Novak Djokovic began 2012 with a resounding win at the Australian Open as the Serb tries to back up a record-setting 2011 campaign which yielded trophies at three of the four Grand Slams.

Djokovic, winner of 10 titles from 11 finals last season, spent just over 90 minutes in blitzing Italian Paolo Lorenzi 6-2, 6-0, 6-0 as the defending champion soared into the second round.

World number one Djokovic fired 22 winners and had just 13 unforced errors in the rout over the number 109.

'I decided not to play the opening week of the year (he did play the unofficial Abu Dhabi exhibition form December 29-31) in order to get ready well for Melbourne,' said Djokovic. 'I'm satisfied with the overall performance today.

'It took me a couple games to get into the right rhythm in difficult conditions. It was really the hottest day since I've arrived here, so I was trying to get used to that. But I played well after the first set.'

Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer started with a victory over Portugal's Rui Machado 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

Women's Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, the unassuming second seed and contender for a possible takeover of the WTA top ranking from Caroline Woznaicki, went about her business with efficiency in a hammering of Russian Vera Dushevina 6-2, 6-0.

'After slow beginning it was fine,' said Kvitova. 'I can improve for sure my serve. The score looks easy, but it wasn't. Some games were very close. I'm glad that I'm through.'

Former champion Maria Sharapova was even more brutal, allowing outclassed Argentine Gisela Dulko just one game in a demolition which lasted for less than an hour.

Sharapova showed absolutely no signs of the ankle injury which prevented her from starting her season a fortnight ago in Brisbane.

'I could have gone into Brisbane, and maybe not be a hundred percent tennis ready, but I want to come into the Grand Slam with a few matches,' said Sharapova.

'I couldn't wait to start, it feels like forever since I've been in a match where I feel pretty good physically. It's just nice to go out and know that you're going to compete again at such a high level in front of so many people, especially a place where I've won before.' The loss left Dulko 3-14 against top five opponent as she went down to Sharapova for the third time in four meetings.

US-based Russian Sharapova won the last of her three Grand Slam titles in Melbourne in 2008 before descending into several seasons of struggle with a shoulder injury.

Australian Samantha Stosur fell flat as the US Open winner was drummed out by Romanian Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 in a home embarrassment for the sixth seed.

Two more home players exited as Maria Kirilenko defeated Aussie Jarmila Gajdosova 6-4, 6-2 and Shahar Peer stopped Isabella Holland 6-2, 6-0.