TNI Bureau: India’s Somdev Devvarman, started his Australian Open,2013 campaign in style as he cruised past Germany’s Bjorn Phau in the opening round of the men’s singles event, in Melbourne.

Somdev, whose ranking has plummeted to 551, defeated Phau, who is ranked 78, 6-3 6-2 6-3 in close to a two-hour match.

The 27-year-old Indian will next take on the winner of another first round match between Simone Bolelli of Italy and Polish Jerzy Janowicz.