It wasn’t a semifinal this time, though, and It didn’t end almost as well for Rafael Nadal, who lost 7-6 (6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 to Fernando Verdasco and was eliminated in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament for only the second time in a career that has netted him 14 major titles.
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Williams, who has an 11-year dominance over Sharapova, is the favorite in Melbourne but faces a strong crop of resurgent and determined players.
Any thoughts that Johanna Konta was struggling to recapture her excellent form of last season were dashed in stunning fashion as the Eastbourne player recorded a straight sets victory against Venus Williams at the Australian Open last night.
Australian Open saw a major upset taking place on Day 2 with Brit Johanna Konta beating No. 8 seed Venus Williams in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in just over an hour and move into the Second Round. “I think I played unbelievable – the fifth set from the break that he made me, I just started hitting winners”.
Konta, born in Sydney, was making her first appearance in Melbourne but did not look out of place as she got stuck into Williams early on, absorbing the seven-time grand slam winner’s power and manoeuvring her around the court superbly.
Forced into a decider, Nadal broke again for an early 2-0 lead, but he would not add another game as Verdasco unloaded a barrage of forehands to propel his countryman towards an early exit.
Maria Sharapova advanced to the third round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich, staying on course for a potential quarterfinal meeting with Serena Williams.
“My child is more important to me, and my wife is more important to me, than a tennis match”, he said.
The World Number Five had extra time off to prepare for the competition after withdrawing from the Brisbane International to allow her injury to heal.
“Everybody hits the ball hard and try to go for the winners in any position”, he said. “Many Jews and Israelis come to watch me and it is a great atmosphere for me and I don’t want to let them down”.
“But at the same time, I know I did everything that I can to be ready for it. Was not my day”.
“Even if she’s playing with one leg out there, you’ve got to really take care of things on your own, because she’s an incredible player. That’s no secret”, said Konta, who has grown by leaps and bounds in the past 12 months.
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Verdasco will now play Israel’s Dudi Sela in round two and may feel a sense of justice after he lost a classic five-set contest with Nadal in the 2009 Australian Open semi-finals.
