Williams hadn’t completed a competitive match since losing in the U.S. Open semifinals, a defeat that ended her bid to win all four Grand Slams in the same season.
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Williams will continue her campaign to defend her Australian Open title in the next round, playing Taiwanese player, Su-Wei Hsieh.
Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts to a lost point during his second round match against Austin Krajicek of the United States during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wedn…
Williams said she didn’t feel the knee problem at all during Monday’s match against No. 34-ranked Girorgi.
Radwanska did not appear to be hampered in the match against McHale, which she closed out in 80 minutes.
But despite the on court drama Tsonga wrapped up play on the first day of the Australian Open with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Baghdatis. “I was like, “Yay”.
Thirty-sixth-ranked Giorgi, who despite her slight build packs a strong forehand, steadied herself to drag Williams into a baseline battle and the American’s screams of frustration underlined a growing tension in the match.
Serena Williams shrugged off her knee injury and lack of match practice to beat Italian Camila Giorgi in the first round of the Australian Open.
Konta had failed to qualify on her last three visits to Melbourne Park. Asked about Giorgi, Williams professed to not know who she was playing: “I don’t really ever look at the draw, so I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention it. Thank you”.
No. 3 Garbine Muguruza needed exactly an hour to beat Estonian qualifier Anett Kontaveit 6-0, 6-4, No. 11 Timea Bacsinszky advanced over Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 7-5 and No. 15 Madison Keys, a semifinalist here previous year, had to save set points in the first before beating Zarina Diyas 7-6 (5), 6-1.
But last year wasn’t the first time Djokovic has won three Grand Slam titles in a year.
“I was approached through people that were working with me at that time, that were with my team”, he said. “He’s my idol. It was a good experience to play with him”, Chung said.
The two dominant players of past year, Djokovic and Williams are no strangers to the heat of the Australian summer, of course, but sweltering conditions might help expose any flaws in their early season form or fitness. “I just have a goal this year for the Olympics, for my country”.
Wozniacki, seeded 16th, lost 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 to Kazakhstan’s world No76 Yulia Putintseva, while USA’s Stephens was beaten 6-3, 6-3 by Chinese qualifier Qiang Wang. The report said that in the last decade, 16 players who have been ranked in the top 50 have been repeatedly flagged to the integrity unit.
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“I think today’s match was kind of like very similar in terms of the (2009) semi, going to a fifth set”, Verdasco said.
