Caroline Wozniacki fought back tears after launching her Australian Open defence with a convincing 6-3, 6-4 win over Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium yesterday. The third seed won her maiden Slam at Melbourne Park last year but has since been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

The Dane, who is bidding to become the first woman to defend the title since Victoria Azarenka in 2013, showed no outward sign of the illness as she eased past world number 52 Van Uytvanck in straight sets. Meanwhile, five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova warned she cannot be written off after serving a 6-0, 6-0 "double bagel" to Britain's Harriet Dart in the first round.