Robson eases past American Oudin in first Melbourne qualifying round

Great Britain's Laura Robson breezed through the first round of qualifying for the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over American Melanie Oudin on Thursday.

The 17-year-old, seeded 14, won 6-3, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Italy's Anna Floris.

The Melbourne-born Briton, who reached the second round of Wimbledon and the US Open last year, broke four times, dropping her serve twice.

Steady progress: Robson won in straight sets

Naomi Broady joined Robson in the second round as she saw off the challenge of another American, Ashley Weinhold, 6-4 5-7 6-3.

In the men's qualifying draw, James Ward came back from a set down to go forward to the second round.

Ward, who is the 32nd seed, lost the first set against Inigo Cervantes-Huegun on Wednesday but resumed the match in much better touch.

He won successive sets on court four to seal a 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 win and will now meet Czech Ivo Minar in the next round.

Irishman Conor Niland went out after losing his first-round match to Switzerland's Stephane Bohli 6-3 6-2.