Day One at the 2012 Australian Open featured both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federe opening matches and while neither man had any trouble moving into the second round, the first day of competition did produce its first major upset. The big upset of the day, was produced by Australian teenager Bernard Tomic.

PHOTO CREDIT - Zimbio.com

Edmonton - January 16, 2012 - Day One at the 2012 Australian Open featured both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federe opening matches and while neither man had any trouble moving into the second round, the first day of competition did produce its first major upset.

Nadal dismissed American Alex Kuznetsov in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. It took the number two ranked player in the world just over an hour and a half of work to eliminate Kuznetzov as he rode the strength of. his forty-two winners to victory. It took the Spaniard a little time to settle in and find his game but once he did there was nothing the American could do to stop him. Many seemed surprised and concerned when Rafa took the court with his right knee heavily wrapped but it had no noticeable effect on his court movement. That being the said, it will definitely be something to keep an eye on as the tournament moves along.

The feature match at Rod Laver Arena, saw Federer taking on Alexander Kudryavtsev. The Russian played a solid first set but Roger was simply too much to handle on the evening and won it easily 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. The four-time champion struggled with his serve for much of the match but did collect fourteen aces on route to victory. Like Nadal, the great Swiss piled up the winners, forty-three, but unlike his Spanish rival, he struggled to find his game for much of the match. Federer committed thirty-three unforced errors and he will have to clean that up, if he has any hopes of collecting his seventeenth career Grand Slam title.

The big upset of the day, was produced by Australian teenager Bernard Tomic.The nineteen year-old fell down two sets to none against veteran Fernando Verdasco before fighting back and outlasting the Spaniard in a classic five set match. To make the feat that much more impressive, the two men played early in the day and had to battle the hot Australian sun, which took its toll on the much older Verdasco.With the twenty-second ranked Verdasco taking the first two sets by scores of 6-4 & 7-6, it seemed like nothing more then a formality that the young Aussie would be dismissed on day one of this year's event. Tomic managed to win a hard fought third set 6-4 and then cruised to an easy 6-2 win in the fourth. That set that the stage for a five setter on day one and the two men did not disappoint. The Australian broke Verdasco late in the set to go up 6-5 and then promptly served out the match, to complete the comeback.

Other men advancing on the first day of competition included: Juan Martin Del Potro, Mardy Fish, Tomas Berdych and American John Isner. Day Two will feature the opening match from defending champion Novak Djokovic as well as the opening efforts from Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Canadian phenom Milos Raonic.