Azarenka in a hurry

Victoria Azarenka led the way as a quintet of leading players cruised into the second round of the Australian Open.

Azarenka, the third seed, thrashed Britain's Heather Watson in a ruthless display on Rod Laver Arena to join defending champion Kim Clijsters, last year's beaten finalist Li Na, eighth seed Agnieszka Radwanska and 10th seed Francesca Schiavone in posting opening-day wins.

Azarenka dropped the opening game to 19-year-old Watson from Guernsey but then ran through the next 12 to secure a 6-1 6-0 win.

The Belarusian was satisfied with her display after only arriving in Melbourne at the weekend following her win in the Sydney event last week, saying: "The score looks easy but to play the match is never easy, especially for me coming here only on Saturday."

Caroline Wozniacki's search for a maiden grand slam title remained on track as the Danish top seed powered into the next round.

The 21-year-old had little difficulty against Anastasia Rodionova, despatching the Australian with a 6-2 6-1 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

Wozniacki drove home every ball with the ferocity more often seen deep in the second week of a major than the opening day.

Clijsters looked rusty in her win over Maria Joao Koehler, a qualifier from Portugal. The 11th-seeded Belgian missed the majority of the second half of last season through injury and then had to pull out of the Brisbane International warm-up event with a hip injury.

And her usual fluency was lacking although she managed to advance courtesy of a 7-5 6-1 triumph.

China's Li, who became the first Asian player to win a grand slam when she claimed the French Open crown last June, beat Ksenia Pervak 6-3 6-1, Schiavone saw off Laura Pous-Tio 6-1 6-3 and Radwanska edged out American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-7 (12/10) 6-4 6-2.