Henin, Davenport advance in Aussie open

Two former champions who were absent last year advanced to the second round this time, with top-ranked Justine Henin beating Japan's Aiko Nakamura 6-2, 6-2, and 2000 winner Linsday Davenport holding off Italy's Sara Errani 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.

Henin, in her first match at Melbourne Park since retiring from the 2006 final against Amelie Mauresmo, took the last six games against Nakamura to notch her 29th consecutive win.

She was going through a divorce and skipped the last Australian Open, then came back to win the French and U.S. Opens and the season-ending championship. Her only loss in six months was to Marion Bartoli in the Wimbledon semifinals.

She won the Sydney International title Friday to continue her streak.

Davenport, who was pregnant with her first child and on a break from the tour this time last year, came into the tournament with three titles and an 18-1 record since returning from the birth of her son, Jagger, last June.

Two of those titles followed wins over Errani. The Italian player made her work harder this time, breaking Davenport's serve twice in the third set and saving two match points before putting a forehand into the net after 2 hours, 19 minutes.

Davenport's 49 winners was one more than the number of her unforced errors in an erratic match.