Rafael, Simona sent packing

Rafael Nadal and Simona Halep were sent crashing out of the Australian Open first round on Tuesday as a dramatic day of upsets shifted the landscape of the year's first Grand Slam.

Nadal suffered one of the worst Grand Slam results of his career as he was stunned by fellow Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco in a five-set thriller which recalled their epic 2009 semi-final.

Halep, the women's world number two, soon followed him out in an almighty upset by Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai -- who wept freely as she won her first Grand Slam match in 15 attempts.

Andy Murray, a four-time finalist who is seeking his first win in Melbourne, dispatched Germany's Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in hot conditions to move into the second round.

Rising star Garbine Muguruza beat Estonian debutante Anett Kontaveit 6-0, 6-4 in one hour exactly -- and immediately set her sights on dethroning Serena Williams in the final.

While Murray and Muguruza motored through, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams suffered an early exit when she lost to British number one Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-2.