First round win for Venus, loss for Routliffe at Australian Open

Mixed fortunes for the two New Zealanders at the Australian Open doubles today. 

Michael Venus and Jamie Murray won their first round match, but Erin Routliffe and Alicja Rosolska lost in straight sets.

For 11th seeds Venus and Murray they combined well to beat  Hunter Reese (USA) and Cristian Rodriguez (Colombia) 6-4, 6-2 in just over an hours play.

"We played well. We're been playing well this year, even in the loss in Auckland we played some good tennis. It was a good start to the tournament," said Venus. 

The second round match for Venus and Murray will see them up against Tomislav Brkio (Bosnia) and Gonzalo Escobar (Ecuador), a challenge which Venus says will be tough. 

"They're a new pair for this year and Jamie and I played them in Adelaide. It was a tough match and won't be easy."

Unfortunately Routliffe and Rosolska were well beaten in their match in blustery conditions and on the super fast court 14 Anna Bondar (Hungary) and Belgian Greet Minnen 6-4 6-1 in 1 hour 17 minutes

For Routliffe it was a game she'd rather forget.

"It was a bad day at the office, nothing worked. I'll go and play the big tournaments in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha, but i don't have a partner yet."

 Venus is also in the mixed draw with Angel Hao-Ching Chan (Taipei). The pair have twice reached the mixed final at the US Open (2017, 2019).