The Belarusian top seed, who beat Maria Sharapova in the final last year, is defending a Grand Slam title for the first time and had to overcome some stiff second set defiance from Romania&#39;s Monica Niculescu. She finally did what was required to go through 6-1, 6-4, but only after shouting at herself repeatedly at the baseline. &quot;It was just kind of to bring me back into competition, because I felt like the first set was really flowing my way and everything was going well for me. I was executing what I wanted,&quot; she said. &quot;And then, I kind of miss-hit a few shots and she got really competitive. I felt like I was on the practice court a little bit, letting go a few things that I shouldn&#39;t. &quot;After that I just really had to pump myself up to get into that state of mind of competitiveness. From there, I got back and I started to do the right things again.&quot; <img alt="Azarenka" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/jan/azarenka15jan.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 398px;" /> Victoria Azarenka after the match. Pic/ AFP The 23-year-old won six WTA titles in 2012 but she was forced to withdrew from this month&#39;s Brisbane International with an infected big toe, hampering her Grand Slam build-up, but she showed few ill effects on Rod Laver Arena. She quickly raced to a 3-0 first set lead, showcasing a sparkling array of shots, closing it out in just 31 minutes. But the 49th ranked Romanian found her feet in the second set and pulled into a 3-0 lead before Azarenka battled back, drawing level at 4-4 then wrapping up the match when Niculescu sent a forehand long. &quot;I couldn&#39;t wait to get out there and play. It&#39;s been a long week of preparation, so you always feel like a little bit overwhelmed before your first match,&quot; she said. &quot;But I think I had a good first match. That&#39;s what I needed to get into that competitive spirit, which I did. I&#39;m happy. It&#39;s a good match to build up from.&quot; Azarenka next plays either Eleni Daniilidou of Greece or Czech Karolina Pliskova, not that she would know -- she admitted that she never looked at the draw. Asked if she even knew who was on her side of the draw, and a likely opponent before the final, she replied: &quot;No. &quot;Well, obviously who plays today, they are in my half. That&#39;s common sense. But, no, not even curious,&quot; said Azarenka, who added that she had ignored the draws for six or seven years. &quot;Because I used to look all the time and it made me think too much. What&#39;s the point?&quot; Azarenka then will not be aware that standing in her way of back-to-back Australian titles is 15-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, who is in the same half with the two due to meet in a blockbuster semi-final.

World number one Victoria Azarenka said Tuesday she had to yell at herself to refocus and get with it as she shook off early season rust in a hard-fought Australian Open first round win.

Champ Azarenka still shaking off the rust

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Champ Azarenka still shaking off the rust

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