MELBOURNE, Australia — Shelby Rogers, who made one of last season’s most surprising surges, picked up where she left off by delivering the first major upset of the Australian Open on Monday.
The unseeded Rogers beat Simona Halep, the fourth seed, in routine fashion, 6-3, 6-1, in the opening match on center court at Rod Laver Arena. Rogers, of South Carolina, dominated the match with her serve, winning 71 percent of her first-serve points and 63 percent on her second serve. She faced only one break point, which she saved, and broke Halep’s serve four times during a 75-minute match.