First of all, I'd like to thank Marat Safin & Benjamin Becker for the three hours, twenty-six minutes of suspense early this morning.  That total should edge out the two-day premiere of 24 (minus commercials), which probably won't measure up in racquet abuse either.

Monday By the Numbers

But Safin's first round win wasn't the longest match of Day One at the Australian Open.  Lukas Dlouhy of Czechoslovakia and Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili were still playing their four hour, 48-minute five-setter out on Court 10 while a capacity crowd watched the 2005 AO champ in Rod Laver Arena.  Talk about extremes:  Gabashvili needed only 19 minutes to win the second set.  The fifth set, which is not decided by a tiebreak, went to 16-14 and lasted 122 minutes. 

For his efforts, Dlouhy now faces a second round against compatriot Radek Stepanek, who was off the court in just over a quarter of that time.  Stepanek was one of 11 players -- nine men and four women -- to serve up a bagel.

Andy Roddick faced two tiebreaks in his first two sets of this tournament.  In the first, 38 points were played before Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won on the tenth set point.  While the athletic Frenchman was ousted, his home country brought the largest contingent of 28 athletes.  Twenty-two of those players remain, which matches the number of Americans left.  Both countries have legitimate title contenders.

Friction between two other countries led to the ejection of 150 spectators.  Croatian and Serbian fans scuffled, though no injuries were reported.  Security was beefed up for today's match between Marin Cilic (CRO) and Ilia Bozoljac (SRB).

Tuesday's Proportions

Day Two provides symmetry.

The two top singles seeds, Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, each lost exhibition matches coming into this tournament.  To strong favorites on the Rebound Ace surface:  Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters.  But neither of those match-ups could play out as the final in the Slam, since these pairings are seeded to meet in the semis.

Federer and Roddick are already into the second round, while Sharapova and Clijsters will be featured on center court today.  Clijsters, an "adopted" Australian, has declared 2007 her last year on the pro tour.  This is an ideal surface for the 2004 finalist and she proved her dedication to the year with her come-from-behind Sydney title win last week. 

There's already "Tiki Talk" on the 23-year-old.  Many believe she won't really retire.  But she will be marrying American basketball player Brian #### this summer and she's ready to start a family.  Sharapova, who also looks forward to motherhood, recently stated that she could see herself retiring at that relatively young age if she is no longer motivated to play at the top level.

The other matches on center court include a replay of a challenging Wimbledon 2006 match-up, American Robert Kendrick v Rafael Nadal.  The night matches feature home crowd favorites: Alicia Molik, who plays Yung-Jan Chun; and Lleyton Hewitt, who has American Michael Russell talking some pre-match smack.  Both Aussies have had recent career setbacks due to injury and are dark horses for this event.

More Next Door

Tournament organizers have an embarrassment of riches for this round.  The center of entertainment today may not be center court, but Vodafone Arena.  All four day matches there could be very competitive.  Martina Hingis -- who has a streak of six finals here, winning three in a row -- will play another wily veteran in France's Natalie Dechy. 

Top American James Blake matches up against 1997 finalist Carlos Moya, a repeat of last week's Sydney final.  They played a competitive match and should again, but this one will also draw the eye candy fans.  These two know how to rock the sleeveless look, and mercy... it's hot in Melbourne!

The other two contests on this show court should measure up even though a couple of the competitors don't... in one sense only.  In an era where players hover near the six foot mark, American Vania King and Olivier Rochus of Belgium stand at 5'5".  King faces thirteenth seed Ana Ivanovic, one of those six-footers.  While Rochus' opponent, Australian Chris Guccione, is 6'7".

Rochus has already proven determination as a returner.  He's had match points on Federer and has been known to frustrate (and defeat) a certain tall Russian who's as talented as the world number one.  King, also a baseliner, has shown confidence that has her ranked highest of the upcoming American women. 

Still, I don't think either will be a David and Goliath story.  Not to slight the short, but Ivanovic and Guccione have too much firepower and momentum.  Nadal says Gooch, last week's Adelaide finalist, has one of the best serves on tour.  Ivanovic steamrolled Hingis in the Montreal final last year, and also beat Amelie Mauresmo on hard court.  Both players are riding some confidence coming into this, but it would be folly for them to overlook their smaller opponents.

Projected Day Two winners highlighted in bold.