Happy families: Osaka, Williams win openers in Australia

Naomi Osaka won tournament opening match for her d at Australian Open. Serena Williams won hers for her daughter.

first two matches on center court at Australian Open were all about families for two champions.

For something new, Osaka's far, Leonard Francois, was in crowd watching as defending champion reeled off last four games after dropping serve for only time to beat Marie Bouzkova 6-2, 6-4.

Next up, Williams started her bid for a first major title as a mom when she beat 18-year-old Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-3. Williams has won title seven times in Australia, and is aiming for an all-time record-equaling 24th Grand Slam singles title. She hasn't ded to her career tally with victory at 2017 Australian Open, and n becoming Olympia's mom. She mand to end one drought last week when she won title in Auckland, New Zealand — her first since Australian title three years ago.

“I hn't been able to win as a mom, so it was nice to finally be able to win a tournament with a 2-year-old w,” Williams said of her Auckland win. “I've been pretty close, but it was special for me and for her. I hope for her.”

Williams has lost four Grand Slam finals since her last title, and is determined to end that streak.

She won seven straight games until Potapova held serve and changed momentum — for a little while at least. Russian got a service break, but broke Williams rallied quickly to get back on track.

Osaka thanked crowd after her match, saying “You probably didn’t come for me, but thanks for filling up stium. re was one person in particular who was re only for Osaka.

“My d watched my match from my box for first time during a Grand Slam," Osaka, who won back-to-back majors at 2018 U.S. Open and last year's Australian Open, tweeted. “I feel so happy.”

It was an all-star lineup on Rod Laver, with six-time champion Roger Federer and seven-time champion vak Djokovic playing matches on eir side of . 1-ranked Ash Barty's night match.

Osaka is aiming to be only ninth woman to successfully defend Australian Open title. She wasn't able to do that at U.S. Open last year, when she lost in fourth round, but says she learned some valuable lessons re.

“Definitely, it was really tough for me trying to control my nerves," she said of her first-round win. "I’m really gl I was able to finish it in two.

Or seeded players vancing included . 13 Petra Martic and . 14 Sofia Kenin. Martic h a 6-3, 6-0 win over Christina McHale and Kenin beat Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan 6-2, 6-4..

In men's matches, Sam Querrey beat 25th-seeded Borna Coric 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and . 8 Matteo Berrettini vanced 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 over wild-card entry Andrew Harris.