Day one of the 2011 Australian Open and despite the overcast skies at Melbourne Park, these spectators ensure a colourful start to the season's opening Grand Slam tournament
In a fortnight' s time 256 players will have been whittled down to just two - the men's and women's champions. Showcasing the silverware on offer are former Australian players Ken Rosewall and Evonne Goolagong
First up on Rod Laver Arena is 2008 champion Maria Sharapova. The Russian was knocked out in the first round last year but takes the first set off Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn for the loss of only one game
Reigning French Open champion Francesca Schiavone remonstrates with herself after dropping the first set against Spain's Arantxa Parra Santonja, but the sixth seed bounces back to level and force a decider
Many tipped 14th seed Gael Monfils to go far but the Frenchman - coached by respected Australian Roger Rasheed - finds himself in big trouble after losing the first two sets to unseeded Dutchamn Thiemo de Bakker
Better news for three-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova, who books her place in round two with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Tanasugarn despite 22 unforced errors and 10 double faults
Caroline Wozniacki marks her first Grand Slam event as world number one with a new Stella McCartney-designed Ballerina Dress. The Danish top seed picks up the first set against Argentina's Gisela Dulko
But for all their charms, Wozniacki and Dulko struggle to attract much of a crowd on Rod Laver Arena - although members of the England cricket team are in attendance
Schiavone lets out a huge roar after finding her form to beat Parra Santonja 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-4
It's De Bakker's turn to wince as Monfils emerges from his slump to come from two sets and a break behind to level the match and force a deciding set
Wozniacki continues to look nervous in the second set but an inconsistent Dulko fails to capitalise and the world number one comes through for a 6-3 6-4 win
England cricketers Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann head to the practice courts, where compatriot Anne Keothavong is hitting ahead of her first round match against Arina Rodionova later on Monday
Another Briton warming up at Melbourne Park is Andy Murray. The world number five opens his campaign against Karol Beck on Tuesday - the pair are scheduled to meet in the third match on Hisense Arena
Monfils lives up to his reputation as one of the tour's finest athletes to complete a superb come-from-behind victory over De Bakker, winning 6-7 (5-7) 2-6 7-5 6-2 6-1
For those seeking a break from the tennis, light entertainment can be found in the form of a three-piece brass band dressed as kangaroos
Of far greater excitement is Roger Federer's arrival on Rod Laver Arena - the scene of his 2010 triumph. The Swiss great, bidding for a 17th Grand Slam title, begins his title defence against Slovakia's Lukas Lacko
Federer is quickly into his stride, snapping up the opening set in 22 minutes and showing similar ruthlessness to pick up the second. The world number two goes on to win 6-1 6-1 6-3 in 84 minutes
Like Federer, eighth seed Andy Roddick advances for the loss of only five games. The American beats Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic 6-1 6-2 6-2, sending down 18 aces along the way
But it's an early exit for four-time quarter-finalist Nikolay Davydenko, the 23rd seed from Russia beaten in four sets by Germany's Florian Mayer
The temperamental weather conditions keep the ball boys and girls busy scrubbing the surface dry for the players amid sporadic showers
Australia's Jarmila Groth challenges a linesman's call in her match against 21st seed Yanina Wickmayer, but it can not prevent her slipping to a 6-3 2-6 6-4 defeat
With sister Serena unable to defend her title through injury, elder sister Venus is left to fly the flag for the Williams family. Italy's Sara Errani pushes hard throughout but Williams finds a wau through 6-3 6-2
England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who blasted 78 runs in one-day defeat to Australia on Sunday, takes in Elena Baltacha's win over Jamie Hampton on Court 10
2008 champion Novak Djokovic has plenty of time to satisfy the autograph-hunters after seeing off Spain's Marcel Granollers 6-1 6-3 6-1
Czech Tomas Berdych's concentration shows no sign of wavering as he dismisses Marco Crugnola of Italy 6-4 6-0 6-2
Justine Henin is taken to three sets by India's Sania Mirza but eventually prevails under the roof in the day's final match in the Hisense Arena
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