Serena, Sharapova ease into third round of Australian Open

Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki might be the best of friends but the pair could scarcely have had more different experiences on the Australian Open’s first day.

“I was approached through people that were working with me at that time, that were with my team”, Djokovic told reporters after his first round victory at the Australian Open.

“I let her back into the match, and it was basically my own fault that I’m not here as the victor”.

Among other women’s winners, No. 15 Madison Keys, an American who was a semifinalist in this event a year ago, had to save set points in the first before beating Zarina Diyas, 7-6 (5), 6-1.

“Every time I go back to Rod Laver Arena, I have these memories come back to me from the first win back in 2008, and, of course, some of the epic matches I’ve played on that court”, Djokovic said. I think my serve is something that I take out from today’s match as the best part of my game.

“But this was a match where I was able to focus on my game, on tactics, all that stuff”.

She faces a potential quarterfinal match against Maria Sharapova, which would be a rematch of the 2015 final.

The most dominant players in tennis entered the season’s first major after contrasting preparations, with Williams having to overcome a left knee problem that limited her court time and Djokovic warming up with a run to the title at Doha.

No. 5 Rafael Nadal played fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the late match, a rematch of the epic semifinal here in 2009.

“I have been going non-stop since the Olympics in London, and seeing that this is another Olympic year, I kind of wanted to start the year out really fresh and really go at it again as hard as I can”.

Which seeds fell at the first hurdle?

No. 24 Sloane Stephens, a semifinalist in 2013, lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Qiang, and exited along with No. 26 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and No. 27 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

Novak Djokovic hailed the ideal start to his Australian Open campaign after dispatching South Korea’s Hyeon Chung in straight sets, with the Serbian particularly pleased with the way he served.

She had already won the Australian and French Opens and Wimbledon in a dominant season.

“This court is probably my most successful court in my career”, said Djokovic.

The No1-ranked Williams, bidding for a 22nd grand slam title to match the great Steffi Graf, cruised through the one-hour romp in glorious sunshine at Rod Laver Arena without dropping serve. “As an athlete, I do everything I can to be not only great, but, you know, historic”.

Konta crushed the eighth-seeded American, and seven-time grand slam champion, 6-4 6-2 in a first-round boilover on Tuesday.