( CNN ) -- Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic might have hit upon a formula to contend with the searing heat at the Australia Open -- beat your opponents as quickly as possible . A record-equaling nine players retired from their first round matches as temperatures lingered at a stifling 40 degrees Celsius , matching the highest number of withdrawals from a single round of grand slam set at the 2003 U.S. Open and Wimbledon 2013 . Complaining players , vomiting , fainting , melting bottles and burning feet have marred the first few days of competition in Melbourne , but world No . 1 Williams and four-time champion Djokovic were both in a hurry as they registered commanding wins . Williams , a five-time winner of the year 's opening grand slam , beat 104-ranked Vesna Dolonc 6-1 6-2 , while men 's second seed Novak Djokovic defeated Argentina 's Leonardo Mayer 6-0 6-4 6-4 . Rafter return . Pat Rafter 's return from retirement fell short as Australia 's Davis Cup captain and his partner Lleyton Hewitt crashed out of the men 's doubles at the first hurdle . The Australian duo were beaten 6-4 7-5 by American Eric Butorac and South African Raven Klassen but at least Rafter , who retired in 2001 , was pleased to avoid an embarrassing scoreline . `` I got through it and that was the main thing , '' Rafter , who won the Australian Open men 's doubles title in 1999 , told the Australian Open website . `` It was n't embarrassing but I just was n't able to build any pressure to help Lleyton out on his return when they were serving . '' Hewitt had coaxed his 41-year-old Davis Cup captain out of retirement for a one off return in Melbourne and he said afterwards : `` It was a lot of fun to team up with Pat , especially at the Australian Open which means a lot to us . `` I threw it up to Pat and he thought I was joking . He still goes all right . '' Hewitt , who also lost his first round singles match to Italian Andreas Seppi to dampen home hopes , said he and Rafter would return to the court at the French Open and Wimbledon 's All England championship . But before Australian tennis fans get their hopes up , Hewitt made it clear he was only joking .
Serena Williams and Novak Martin seal commanding wins at Australian Open . World No . 1 Williams and second seed Djokovic both register straight - sets wins . A record - breaking nine players have withdrawn or lost from their first round matches . Temperatures in Wimbledon have lingered above 40 degrees Celsius .