Serena Williams begins her quest Monday to equal Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles battling fitness concerns and with a host of players desperate to dethrone the defending champion.
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While the American was making her 16th appearance in the Australian Open main draw, this was Konta’s first but it was the Briton who was in control for all of the one hour and 19 minutes in Rod Laver Arena. “I really love this crowd, and it all started here; this is where I played my first Grand Slam, right here on this court”, she added. “I’m not good at those”, she said.
And it was one the world number 47 did not see coming, having lost in the first round at her two warm-up tournaments.
Williams said she was pleased by her consistency and lack of errors, but possibly the first around-the-net she has ever played was a highlight. “I was like, ‘Yay”.
Roger Federer has moved into the third round at the Australian Open with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 win over Alexandr Dolgopolov.
“I don’t really know”, Serena said.
“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”. “As an athlete, I do everything I can to be not only great, but, you know, historic”.
Inglis, 18, went down 6-3 6-0 to No. 21 seed Ekaterina Makarova from Russian Federation, a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park past year.
Grigor Dimitrov has struggled to a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over Marco Trungelliti of Argentina in a second-round match at Melbourne Park.
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.
Maria Sharapova declared herself free from the worry of a forearm injury after charging into the Australian Open third round on Wednesday, January 20, 2016.
“I play very hard, and every player I play seems to play hard”, she said.
Aljaz Bedene, Britain’s number two who has switched nationality from Slovenia, lost 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7/3) to America’s Steve Johnson while qualifier Dan Evans was also beaten in straight sets, defeated 6-1 6-0 6-4 to Feliciano Lopez, the eighth seed from Spain.
Serena Williams was on court preparing for her opening 6-4, 7-5 win over No. 34-ranked Camila Giorgi when Kermode was holding a news conference to respond to the fixing allegations.
She claimed her first Australian Open title way back in 2003, beating elder sister Venus in the final, and reached her sixth a year ago when she toppled arch-rival Maria Sharapova.
Sharapova, the 2008 champion and four-time finalist at Melbourne Park, dropped two service games in the first set, including once when serving at 5-1, but was otherwise consistent except for some over-hit ground strokes.
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Even if shes playing with one leg out there, youve got to really take care of things on your own, because shes an incredible player..
