Djokovic cruises past Becker

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Third-ranked Novak Djokovic beat Benjamin Becker 6-0, 6-2, 7-6 (5) today in his first-round match at the Australian Open.

The loss continued a stretch of five consecutive first-round exits at Grand Slams for Becker since his upset over Andre Agassi in the fourth round at the 2006 U.S. Open -- the last match of Agassi's career.

No. 10 seed David Nalbandian recovered from back spasms that forced him out of the Kooyong exhibition last week to beat Australian Robert Smeets 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (3).

Other men advancing included No. 21 Juan Monaco of Argentina and No. 25 Fernando Verdasco of Spain, and Amer Delic beat fellow American Robert Kendrick 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.

Women's No. 6 Anna Chakvetadze only played six points before advancing to the second round when Germany's Andrea Petkovic retired with a leg injury.

No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova advanced 6-3, 7-5 over Vania King of the United States; No. 27 Maria Kirilenko beat American Meilen Tu 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark upset Gisela Dulko of Argentina 6-1, 6-1 and Japan's Akiko Morigami beat Michaella Krajicek 6-2, 6-2.

Top-ranked Roger Federer, aiming for a third consecutive Australian title and claiming to be 100 percent recovered from a stomach virus that interrupted his preparation, had a night match scheduled against Diego Hartfield of Argentina.

Venus Williams was to play China's Yan Zi on Rod Laver Arena in the first night match.