One of the most expected first round match-ups was the one between 13th seeded Italian Roberta Vinci againist former WTA Rising Star Tamira Paszek. With Vinci finding some inspiration after her fantastic run at the US Open and Paszek seeming to play better and better near to her old level, this could have been a great battle. However, the crafty Italian stood up to her ranking and won in two sets, in comfortable fashion, on Court 13.

Vinci find the solution to get out of the tight first set.

The match started really competitively with two breaks of serve. Tamira's deep shots were trying to prevent Roberta from getting to the net, but at the same time, her double faults were not helping her cause. Some good returns were on display as well. Then six consecutive holds followed up to make it 4-4. The Italian was serving unbelievably well, not letting her counterpart getting many chances on her serve, while Tamira's serve games were way more competitive but the Austrian was able to get in control of the baseline rallies, seeming to not getting troubled by Roberta's slice as the head to head implies as well. Vinci though, was still playing cleverly on the return, moving Paszek around and was definitely the one who had more chances to break. However, surprisingly enough, the Austrian stepped in first in the next game leading 0-40 having three break points with her perfectly placed BHs. But, the Italian kept serving really well and with her typical net points and slices was able to survive this tough game. Not only Roberta did survive, but she also played a great return game to back it up, finding finally some ways to stick out from the baseline rallies and find the solution in the net and with some great forehand and return winners. So, the first set went to Vinci, 6-4.

Vinci steps up in the rallies and wins the second set comfortably.

The second set started with an exchange of holds; Vinci served pretty well once again and getting up to the net while the Austrian was just managing to stay alive in her service games with some deep backhands. The US Open finalist would go on to break and win the next three in the process to lead 4-1. Roberta began to move more and more in the net and found solutions with winners, while at the same time, pressuring Tamira's backhand with her slice. Also, she kept serving well throughout the whole match. The Austrian would hold just to linger the Italian's win a little bit more trying to overpower her opponent a bit. Eventually, Vinci would win the next two games with really good serves once again and of course classy net approaches, as well as some really clever and brainy play able to move Paszek around in the baseline rallies, to get to seize the point in the end. In the end, the world number 15 got her first win of the 2016 Australian Open, proving once again that she is in great form.

Statistical image.

Roberta's serve was a really important stat in this match; despite serving at 67 percent first serve, she still won 82 percent of the points behind it, as well as hitting 3 aces. Moreover, the US Open finalist had less unforced errors and more winners in the same time while she made it 15 times in the net, winning 11 points up there. Yours truly think Vinci's solid serving was really important to make that match less painful for her while she was helping her come more to the net. It was a good test passed with comfortably for the number 13th seed, generally speaking.

Now, Vinci will get to play Irina Falconi for a place in the third round, which is her best Australian Open result.