Murray Overcomes Slow Start; Tsonga, Roddick Reach Second Round

© Getty ImagesMurray rallied from a set down to reach the second round.

After dropping the opening set, World No. 4 and two-time Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray recovered to close out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over American Ryan Harrison on Tuesday afternoon in Melbourne.

Murray, who won the Brisbane International two weeks ago, is bidding to become the first player since Roger Federer in 2006 to win the Australian Open having won a warm-up event. Nineteen of his 22 ATP World Tour trophies have been won on hard courts. The 19-year-old Harrison, in only his third Australian Open and seeking his first win, served eight double-faults to bow out in three hours and 12 minutes.

"Some weeks you feel very comfortable in the conditions straightaway [and] sometimes it takes a few matches," said Murray, who admitted his coach, Ivan Lendl, was "very happy" with his performance. He will next play World No. 101 Edouard Roger-Vasselin from France, who had an easier passage by beating the injured Xavier Malisse 7-6(6).

Watch Murray Highlights  | Watch Tsonga Interview

Sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga improved to 3-0 lifetime against Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory in two hours and 53 minutes. It was Tsonga's 50th match win at Grand Slam championships. The Frenchman hit 11 aces and 44 winners, converting six of his nine break point opportunities. He will next face Brazilian Ricardo Mello.

Four-time Australian Open semi-finalist Andy Roddick, who is making his 11th straight appearance at Melbourne Park, brushed past Dutchman Robin Haase 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and 43 minutes.

"[It] felt good," said Roddick. "The serve was real good. I only missed a couple of returns. It felt as clean as it does for a first round in a slam. I think strength-wise I had a good off season. I put in the work. I think nowadays it probably takes me six weeks to do what I used to do in three as far as I can't take that workload on a day to day basis. It's a little counterintuitive for me to pull back a little bit, but I think I had a responsible off season and took care of myself."