The fastest moving thing at the Australian Open on Sunday was not a tennis ball but a $25 poncho at the tournament's gift shop as wet weather wreaked havoc with the action on the opening day of the Grand Slam.

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen made the most of the indoor conditions under a roof at Rod Laver Arena to advance to the second round of the Australian Open in straight sets Sunday while it poured with rain outside.

Heavy rain forced the suspension of matches on outside courts Sunday about an hour into the first day of the Australian Open. Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic champion and runner-up here last year, was able to continue playing 20-year-old qualifier Anca Todoni on Rod Laver Arena,

By Nick Mulvenney and Lidia Kelly MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Organisers cancelled five singles matches as persistent rain washed out a large chunk of play on the opening day of the Australian Open on Sunday,