Reigning Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki has marked her return to Rod Laver Arena with a win, defeating Belgian Alison van Uytvanck in straight sets.

The Danish world No.3 won 6-3 6-4 on Monday night, her first match on Melbourne Park’s centre court since she lifted the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup last January.

Her next assignment will be Sweden’s Johanna Larsson, with a possible blockbuster against Maria Sharapova to come in the third round.