“I think it’s irrelevant how old she is because she’s such a champion with so much experience and so much knowledge about the game”.
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Meanwhile, her sister, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus, received a US$5,000 (S$7,191) fine from the International Tennis Federation for failing to fulfil her post-match media commitments on Tuesday.
Roger Federer extended his streak by reaching the third round for his 17th consecutive Australian Open. Venus and Serena are not playing doubles in Australia so the elder Williams’ tournament is over here.
Konta though, steadied herself on her next service game, she was forced to defend two break points but completed the job with another booming serve that saw Williams’ return hit the net.
It was Konta’s first appearance in the main draw of the Australian Grand Slam but it took her just an hour and 19 minutes to win 6-4, 6-2 against number-eight seed Williams who was competing for the 16th time at Melbourne Park.
“Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose”, a composed Konta said with a smile after booking her spot in the second round in just 71 minutes.
She had reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open last year and finished a career-reviving year with three titles to break back into the top 10 after a four-year hiatus.
At age 35, Venus Williams entered the Australian Open as the oldest player in the field.
“I wasn’t holding serve, I was getting nowhere near his serves”.
Born and raised until her early teens in Sydney, the 24-year-old world number 47 moved to Britain in 2005 and plays under the flag of her adopted home.
While Williams struggled to get going, Nadal’s exit to Verdasco was an epic from the outset, his fellow Spaniard coming off court a 7-6, 4-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 victor. We are constantly reminded to enjoy not one but both Williams while we still have them, and there is a quiet suspicion that after Rio, Venus may well choose to step back from the tour. “She’s extremely young. Very risky”.
The No. 7-seeded Nishikori, a two-time quarterfinalist here, dropped serve just once when he was serving for the second set but recovered to win a tight tiebreaker. “I mean, it’s the least I expect to be in the third round of a Slam, obviously, so I’m pumped up, playing well, feeling good”.
Other seeded players advancing included No. 12 Belinda Bencic, who had a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Timea Babos, and No. 13 Roberta Vinci, who beat Irina Falconi 6-2, 6-3.
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Konta could face China’s No. 1 ranked player Zheng Saisai in the second round.
