TENNIS.com Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Christina McHale has survived her fair share of endurance-testing matches at the Grand Slams.

Few have been as dramatic, though, as her first-round win at the Australian Open on Monday when she vomited on court at 4-all in the third set and saved a match point before outlasting France's Stephanie Foretz 6-4, 1-6, 12-10. The final set took nearly two hours to complete.

Feeling much better after the match, McHale said getting sick in front of a crowded gallery wasn't the worst part of the day.

''I was more just embarrassed that it took so long to clean up, '' she said. ''But I did feel much better after I let it out.''

The 22-year-old American is hoping for a far quicker match in the second round against Carina Witthoeft of Germany. She has a knack for going the distance in the first round at the majors - she has twice lost 9-7 in the third set and won another two matches 10-8 and 8-6 in the decider.

''I feel like all my first rounds at the slams are always really dramatic. I'm just so happy I was able to pull through this one.''

BIRTHDAY VOLLEY: Stefan Edberg turned 49 on Monday and Roger Federer gave him the gift of tennis.

After Federer won his first-round match, the center-court interviewer put him on the spot and asked the Swiss star if he had bought his coach a present for his 49th birthday on Monday.

Edberg, a six-time Grand Slam champion, smiled in the stands where he sat beside Federer's wife.

''The day's not over yet, '' Federer said with a laugh after his evening match, which marked a first step toward his goal of an 18th Grand Slam title. ''Shops are still open in Melbourne.''

Then he fessed up.

Quick on his feet, Federer then realized he had given Edberg something he liked.

''We had a warm-up together, '' Federer said. ''He loves that. He loves to play tennis.''

AUSSIE RULES: It was hard to say what was more fearless about 18-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open on Monday—his inspired play against 11th-seeded Ernests Gulbis or his hot pink and neon yellow outfit.

Kokkinakis, who had never played a match going to five sets before, saved four match points in the fourth set and six break points in the deciding set before putting Gulbis away, 5-7, 6-0, 1-6, 7-6 (2), 8-6, in just over four hours.