The Australian Open was thrown into chaos on opening day as wild weather shut down the majority of court activity for over six hours and forced eight matches to be rescheduled.

The fastest moving thing at the Australian Open on Sunday was not a tennis ball but a $25 poncho at the tournament's gift shop as wet weather wreaked havoc with the action on the opening day of the Grand Slam.

In her first match on Melbourne Park’s main court since her loss in last year’s final, Zheng advanced 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 over 20-year-old qualifier Anca Todoni.