While Serena Williams was pummelling opponents in Perth and revealing plans for an unbeaten 2003, elder sister Venus was toiling away behind the scenes, patiently honing the game that has won her four grand slam crowns.
On Monday the fruits of her labour were on show at Melbourne Park and the world number two, seeded second here behind Serena, swept past Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-2 to reach the second round of the Australian Open.
She was followed on to the main showcourt by Andre Agassi and his meticulous Open preparation was immediately evident as he bulldozed fellow American Brian Vahaly 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
The three-times champion spent just over two hours booking his next round spot. He had been unable to defend his title here last year because of a wrist injury and looked thrilled to be back on court, blasting 36 clean winners.
"To be back here... there is a lot of nerves," Agassi smiled courtside afterwards. "It's been a while."
Champion in 2000 and 2001, Agassi hasn't lost at Melbourne Park since a fourth round loss to Vince Spadea in 1999.
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC
It was not one-way traffic for either second seed, however, but for both Williams and Agassi their peak physical shape gave them an advantage in the energy-sapping Melbourne heat.
Agassi won the Kooyong Classic warm-up event at a canter last week and there is no doubting his phenomenal fitness.
"At this stage I am very physically prepared to do whatever is needed of me here," he said. "I feel good at slams. I feel good in my matches."
Once Venus had shaken off the ring-rustiness caused by two months away from competitive action she also ran away with her match, demolishing the gifted Russian.
It was a performance of power and precision, and one which could see her rejoin the grand slam holders' fold having relinquished her Wimbledon and U.S. Open crowns to Serena last year.
"I've been practising, going out - living life," she giggled when asked of her preparations. "I was just a little rusty out there but at times I was my old self.
"I was rushing and then I realised 'Venus, slow down and you'll be okay'. You know, I didn't expect to be 100 percent in this match but next match I'll be 150."
PERFECT MATCH
Another player who has been grooving her game is Anna Kournikova and she won her first grand slam match in two years, sweeping past Henrieta Nagyova 6-1, 6-2.
"I played nearly a perfect match today," she smiled. "It didn't cross my mind that I lost four (first round) grand slam matches in a row. It's not good if you think about that too much."
The Russian, a Wimbledon semi-finalist on her debut in 1997 and winner of two grand slam doubles crowns, is best known for never having won a singles title, but showed her pedigree on the Margaret Court Arena.
The victory sets up a second round clash with fifth seed Justine Henin-Hardenne - her conqueror in the first round here last year.
The newly-married Belgian breezed into the second round with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Switzerland's Myriam Casanova.
Spanish 26th seed Tommy Robredo became the first seeded casualty, falling 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 6-4 to wily Wayne Ferreira, but Spain's fifth seed Carlos Moya advanced safely, beating Belgium's Dick Norman 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.
Champion in Sydney last week, Lee Hyung-taik of South Korea beat Spain's David Ferrer 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 and he will next face Agassi.
Women's ninth seed and former champion Lindsay Davenport beat French wildcard Camille Pin 6-2, 6-1, seventh-seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova beat Colombia's Fabiola Zuluaga 7-5, 6-7, 6-4 and 15th seed Alexandra Stevenson of the U.S. beat Britain's only entrant in the men's or women's singles, Elena Baltacha, 6-1, 6-4.
