Serena Williams, Federer into 3rd round at Australian Open

In the final game, Konta staved off a Williams break point before closing out the victory. “He was playing unbelievable in the last set… more aggressive than me”. I really love this crowd, and it all started here; this is where I played my first Grand Slam, right here on this court. “I wasn’t here”, Williams said.

Sharapova double-faulted on set point as the nerves jangled and her 21-year-old opponent made the most of it with some quality baseline rallies helping her pull back another game.

The fifth-seeded Sharapova, who won the 2008 women’s singles title and was a finalist past year, defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-1 under the roof on Rod Laver Arena after early morning rain in Melbourne.

Serena Williams set a record when she played her 79th main draw match at the Australian Open, and beat No. 90-ranked Hsieh Su-wei 6-1, 6-2.

Williams’ fine will be deducted from the $US34,500 ($A49,895) she earned for losing in the first round at Melbourne Park.

Petra Kvitova became the latest women’s top-10 player to fall, joining Simona Halep and Venus Williams on the sidelines when she was shocked 6-4, 6-4 by Australian giant-killer Daria Gavrilova.

Last year, she had a successful partnership with former No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, reaching the second week at three of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

The American defending champion thrashed her Taiwanese opponent 6-1, 6-2 in a thrilling second round contest to progress through to the next round.

“I played two previous tournaments and I didn’t quite get the results I wanted but I have a very strong belief in the way I want to play out there and the way I way I want to be thinking, so I keep trying every day”.

She was particularly pleased with her scramble for a victor around the net, which she thought was the first of her career, but poured cold water on the idea of pulling off a between-the-legs trick shot in subsequent matches.

An Italian reporter asked Serena Williams several questions about Roberta Vinci after the world No. 1 cruised to a second-round win at the Australian Open on Tuesday night.

Konta, who was born in Sydney and represented Australia until 2012, returned to the same court where she practised as a youngster to beat Williams 6-4 6-2.

Seventh-seeded Kei Nishikori, the 2014 U.S. Open finalist, advanced to the third round in the men’s draw with a 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over Austin Krajicek.

Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko shocked 23rd seed Svetlana Kuznetsova as she continues her comeback after having a baby in 2013.

Djokovic has said he didn’t believe any elite players were involved.