MELBOURNE Cheap Houston Rockets Jerseys , Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams started their Australian Open title defense in flawless fashion, securing straight sets wins on the opening day.


Taking center stage on Rod Laver Arena (RLA), the world's two best players and the two pre-tournament favorites, shined in typical Melbourne heat.


Confronted by one of the ATP tour's biggest up-and-comers, South Korea's Hyeon Chung, Djokovic barely broke out of first gear in his 6-3, 6-2 Cheap Indiana Pacers Jerseys , 6-4 first-round win.


The 10-time Grand Slam-winner, who unquestionably had his best year on tour in 2015, dominated in his first best-of-five sets match of 2016, seemingly breaking Chung's serve at will.


It was a quick kill for Djokovic, finishing off the 52-ranked South Korean in a touch under two hours (115 minutes).


The Serbian showed why rivals such as Rafael Nadal and Australian Bernard Tomic have suggested only injury or a divine intervention can prevent the 28-year-old from capturing his sixth Australian crown.


Djokovic said it was great to be back in Melbourne, where he has snared half of his Grand Slam titles to date.


In his on-court interview on Monday, the Serbian star described 2015 as the "best season" of his career Cheap Los Angeles Clippers Jerseys , and put last year's incredible form down to the birth of his first child.


Williams, the only player on earth to have had an equally dominant season, also sent a strong message to those in the women's draw.


Going into her eighth Australian Open, the 34-year-old quickly dispelled concerns that a niggling knee injury might impact her title defense.


Williams moved well around the court in her 6-4, 7-5 victory over Italian Camila Giorgi, who gave the six-time tournament winner a good work out in 35-degree Celsius heat.


Williams, who is aiming to become only the third female tennis player to collect 20 major championships Cheap Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys , a feat only accomplished by Margaret Court and Steffi Graf, with another win in Melbourne, said her knee was fine.


"It's great. It was an hour and 43 minutes and I didn't feel it at all," Williams told reporters on Monday.


Earlier on RLA, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova made light work of Thailand's highest ranked female Luksika Kumkhun, who caused a shock upset against her more fancied opponent at the same event in 2014.


There would be no repeat of Kvitova's untimely exit two years ago, as she cruised to a 6-3 Cheap Memphis Grizzlies Jerseys , 6-1 victory in an hour and 10 minutes.


The sixth-seed from Belarus showed no signs of the glandular fever that forced her to retire in the first round of the Shenzhen Open a fortnight ago.


Elsewhere, Australian Daria Gavrilova became the first local player to progress to the second round with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 win over Czech player Lucie Hradecka.


Recently, Gavrilova teamed up with fellow Australian Nick Kyrgios to clinch Australia's first Hopman Cup win in 19 years.


"I was as nervous today as I was at (the) Hopman Cup," Gavrilova told reporters on Monday.


"All these matches mean a lot to me ... it was hard serving it out in the end. I got a bit nervous."


It was the 21-year-old's first Grand Slam win on Australian soil since she secured citizenship in 2013.


The Russian-born world Number 39 said the home town support played a major part in her first win at the Australian Open.


"It was amazing. Someone yelled out 'break here' and I actually did break the same game," she said. "I was like 'oh, thanks'."


Gavrilova will face Kvitova in the second round.


On Hisense Arena Cheap Miami Heat Jerseys , Japan's Kei Nishikori easily accounted German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, in what many considered a danger game for Asia's highest ranked player.


Other top players to steamroll into the second round with straight sets wins included: Agnieszka Radwanska (6-2, 6-3), Tomas Berdych (6-4, 6-3 Cheap Milwaukee Bucks Jerseys , 6-3) and Carla Suárez Navarro (7-5, 6-4).


Overall, Chinese players turned out mixed performances on Day 1.


Chinese qualifier Wang Qiang pulled off one of the biggest heists of the opening day, defeating 2013 semi-finalist Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-3.


Despite winning the second set, compatriot Wang Yafan crashed out 6-4, 1-6 Cheap Minnesota Timberwolves Jerseys , 6-3.


Meanwhile, China's only player in the men's draw, 24-year-old Wu Di, failed to progress to the second round in his third appearance at the Australian Open, losing in straight sets.


DUBAI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Emirates Airline said Wednesday it would "never compromise on the safety of our passengers and crew."


A spokesperson of the Dubai's government-controlled airline made the remarks in a statement after China suspended Emirates from adding new destinations and aircraft in China over the next six months, due to two of its flights had unsafe operations.


The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has imposed a fine of 29 Cheap New Orleans Pelicans Jerseys ,000 yuan (about 4,270 U.S. dollars) on the airline.


"Safety is our number one priority at all times. Emirates fully complies with the CAAC's requirements on all our flight operations to China," the Emirates spokesperson said .


The two incidents occurred on April 17 and May 18 in the airspace of the city of Urumqi in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.


The first incident involved an Emirates plane flying at a wrong height, and in the second incident, its aircraft temporarily lost contact with air traffic control.


The CAAC has held Emirates crew members responsible for both incidents, and summoned senior officials of the airline, but did not provide further information.


"Regarding the specific incidents on April 17 and May 18 Cheap New York Knicks Jerseys , Emirates will cooperate fully with the CAAC and complete all actions recommended by the authority," said the Emirates spokesperson.


Emirates flies to five destinations in China, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Yinchuan and Zhengzhou.


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