Venus Williams fined $5000 for avoiding media

“I haven’t played a competitive match in a really long time”, the American said, “but it was really good for me to come out here and get through it. It wasn’t quick, but that actually worked to my advantage as well”.

She responded: “No. Unfortunately, my home is Great Britain”.

Williams is the highest-seeded player on either side to exit so far.

Although her preparation was disrupted by an arm injury, Sharapova said she drew confidence from her performance in Russia’s losing Fed Cup final against the Czech Republic. “That’s no secret”, said Konta, who has grown by leaps and bounds in the past 12 months.

“I don’t know. If you want to, you can ask her”, Williams said, before roaring with laughter. In the first round, Williams began the defence of her title rather more tentatively, and gave herself an “A for effort” in beating the Italian Camila Giorgi. 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.

No. 5 Maria Sharpova, who lost to Williams in last year’s final, breezed through her first-round match 6-1, 6-3 against Nao Hibino of Japan.

Federer, playing his 65th consecutive major, advanced 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 over Alexandr Dolgopolov. Keys was a semifinalist at last year’s Australian Open.

In hindsight, tennis star Serena Williams thinks it wasn’t the best idea to chase after a man who appeared to be stealing her cell phone.

She’s also just two Grand Slams shy of tying the record for the most-ever majors played by a woman – 71, set by American Amy Frazier. Can she match last year’s success given that she will turn 36 this summer?

In theory, this was an upset. Coto, a mind coach, has helped to transform Konta from a player who struggled on occasions to cope with pressure into a model of mental strength. The tale of the tape going in was powerfully in favor of Venus Williams.

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. Not insignificantly, Venus has a 45-15 record at the Australian. By winning the year-end WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, China, she collected her third title of the year and vaulted back into the year-end top 10 for the first time since 2010. Nothing will be easy at her age. Venus changed her lifestyle and diet and was able to minimize the effects of her illness.

The on-song Russian, 28, shook off any early-season rust in the opening round and continued her impressive form against Sasnovich, crushing the 105th-ranked Belarusian 6-2, 6-1 with the roof shut on Rod Laver Arena as rain came down.

And Italy’s Roberta Vinci overcame Irina Falconi to move towards a potential semifinal rematch with Williams – who she stunned in the US Open last four, ending her bid for a rare calendar-year Grand Slam.