Defending Australian Open champion Serena Williams looked more exhausted by the post-match media conference than her second-round romp at Melbourne Park.
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Williams will next face world No. 69 Daria Kasatkina after the Russian accounted for Croatian Ana Konjuh 6-4 6-3.
Having opened up a 5-1 lead there was, as against the older Williams sister, a slight faltering of the nerve in closing it out and she sustained a break against her before Zheng sent a forehand long to see Konta wrap up victory in 82 minutes at the second time of asking.
“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”, Federer said.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia raises his arms in celebration after defeating Quentin Halys of France in their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016.
Djokovic has never lost in 11 career meetings with the Italian player, including a straight-set victory in the third round of the U.S. Open past year, but he’s not taking anything for granted. “I hope she’s OK”. I don’t get too phased by where they put me.
The British No 1, who shocked Venus Williams in the first round, beat Saisai Zheng of China on Thursday in front of a vocal crowd.
“In fact, I was watching a Telenovela [yesterday]”, she said.
It was a moment that once again demonstrated the mental strength of the Serbian 10-time Grand Slam victor – against an awkward opponent who beat Federer at the same stage previous year.
The match could have a strong influence on who plays doubles in Britain’s Europe/Africa Zone Group I Fed Cup matches against Georgia and South Africa next month, and Konta also has her eye on the Olympics later this year.
Third seed Garbine Muguruza, the runner-up at Wimbledon a year ago, eased past Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 6-2, while Victoria Azarenka continued her impressive start with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Danka Kovinic of Montenegro.
Agnieszka Radwanska’s sky-high confidence took another leap upwards when she halted Eugenie Bouchard, back in form after suffering concussion at the US Open, 6-4, 6-2.
The Russian star was delighted with her performance in a 6-2, 6-1 win over 21-year-old Sasnovich: “To come back here and play my first match on Rod Laver is always very special – as you always get those first little jitters out of the way”, she said.
“It’s lucky for me to play against such a great player like Serena really because honestly, nobody plays forever”.
Serena didn’t offer many clues when she was asked about it today. “That’s why I’ve been playing really well”, Nishikori said. I’m coming apart, though.
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Russia’s Maria Sharapova plays a backhand return during her women’s singles match against Belarus’s Aliaksandra Sasnovich on Day Three of the 2016 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Wednesday.
