WORLD number one Steffi Graf got an unexpected early passage into the second round of the Australian tennis Open early this morning when her Slovakian opponent Janette Husarova was forced to forfeit her match in the first set in Melbourne with a knee injury.

Graf was leading 5-1 when Husarova was wrong-footed at the net by a Graf passing shot and her left knee appeared to collapse on her sending her sprawling on centre court. Husarova sought treatment on the court by the trainer and was unable to continue.

The German top seed is playing her first Australian Open in three years after injury forced her out of the 1995 and 1996 Opens. Bookmakers have listed Graf a 2-1 on favourite to win her fifth title and 22nd career grand slam event. In the next round Graf meets the winner of the match between Evie Dominikovic of Australia and Larissa Neiland of Latvia.

Second seeded American Michael Chang cruised into the second round of the men's singles with a 6-0, 6-3, 6-1 win over Belgian Kris Goosens. Chang will play either American Richey Reneberg or Oscar Burrieza in the next round.