Dropping like flies

The first round of the Australian Open is only part-way done, and several seeds are already packing to go home. The big shocker of the day was the defeat of number 10 seed Venus Williams by Bulgarian player Tszavetana Pironkova, 2-6, 6-0, 9-7. Pironkova put on a show of beautiful passing shots, very skillful footwork, prime fitness, and if not nerves of steel, nerves good enough to see her through some very rough spots. I missed the first set, in which she was apparently trying to find her rhythm. She found it, making few unforced errors, continually exploiting Wiliams' unreliable forehand, and getting back shots that slower players would not have gotten back. She had considerable help from Williams, who made dozens of unforced errors, spraying balls outside the court on a regular basis.

At 5-3 in the third set, Pironkova served for the match, but Williams did not let her get even one match point. Williams then held serve to even it at 5-all. This was when Pironkova's play became wobbly, and she looked like she might fold from the pressure; the Williams sisters are known for pulling enormous rabbits out of hats at moments like this. But she hung in through a very long third set (in all the Grand Slams but the U.S. Open, the tiebreak is not used, but play continues until a player leads by two games).

Also out is number 9 seed Elena Dementieva, who was defeated 7-5, 6-2 by Julia Schruff; seed number 26, former Top 10 player Ai Sugiyama, fell to veteran and former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez. Also, last year's great French hope, 24th seed Tatiana Golovin, was beaten by Mara Santangelo in three sets.

The other sad story of the day was the first round defeat of Jelena Dokic, a former World number 4 who is trying to come back from a virtual disappearance from tennis. And I was disappointed to see one of my favorites, Anabel Medina-Garrigues, also lose in the first round.

And though her win is overshadowed by so many other upsets, former American hope Ashley Harkleroad, who has returned to tennis, defeated China's talented Shuai Peng.