Serena Williams Says Engagement to Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian ‘Feels Good’

Twelve months ago, Angelique Kerber was another of those players lying in the shadows of the mighty Serena Williams. But she also started slowly previous year, when she had to save a match point against Misaki Doi in the first round. Kerber opens the night session against Lesia Tsurenko.

Kerber’s victory was a result of her doggedness and excellent court defence, in face of the barrage of hard serves hammered down by her opponent, who averaged 138km/h and attained a delivery speed of 171km/h several times in the contest. For Kerber, though, it’s pertinent. Serena has never been a fast starter at Slams, but she’ll have to find traction quickly here, because Bencic is only unseeded because of an injury-filled 2016.

The German’s unexpected takeover also included runs to the Wimbledon and US Open deciders, where Kerber rebounded from an Olympic final defeat to cement her position as year-end No.1.

The 35-year-old Williams returned to the court in Auckland last week but was upset by fellow American Madison Brengle in the second round, then created a minor controversy when she said she could not get to Melbourne fast enough.

The world’s number one player needed to hold and take set into tiebreak, but she was forced to deuce.

“When I’m looking back, I was feeling that I got a second chance to stay in the tournament”, she said. “Me, I don’t want to put the pressure on myself”.

“He’s incredibly – a really nice person”, she said. I have to be ready from the first round again T.I..

“I’m very confident. I really hope I can play the same tennis, even the tennis I played in the final”. I am trying to enjoy it, it’s wonderful to be back’.

It contrasts with the laboured progress of Angelique Kerber and Andy Murray a day earlier, despite temperatures rising to 37 Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit) on day two.

Djokovic responded with an ominous win over Murray in a thrilling season-opening final in Doha before declaring his intentions to land an unprecedented seventh men’s Australian Open crown.

The No. 2-ranked Williams’ priority here is an Open era record 23rd major title.

Newly-engaged Williams hasn’t wanted to talk about the record, being a little bit superstitious.

“I think it’s always good to have a match like this in the first few rounds”, said the 28-year-old, who survived a match point against her at the same stage last year.

Williams’ older sister, Venus, also gave her stamp of approval, calling Ohanian a “super nice guy”.

Venus and Serena Williams were scheduled to play their opening doubles match on Wednesday afternoon. So was No. 5-seeded Kei Nishikori.

We would like to close by saying that the absence of Roger Federer has made itself felt during the past six months, and how in four sets he was already able to inflame the fans and the crowd. The 17-time major victor didn’t play after Wimbledon and his ranking slid to No. 17 by this week.

The consistency of this year’s No. 13 seed is often overlooked. “But it’s still a good week with great matches against top players”.

“I definitely love playing here”.