Venus out after 1st round

“Sometimes, you win, and today I won”. After Wimbledon, Sharapova did not play a match until Wuhan, battling a right leg injury, which kept her out of the American summer.

Williams skipped her post-match news conference, incurring a $5,000 fine.

“I just think that it should be tennis that does a better job of explaining, ” Murray said. “So, I mean, she’s definitely looking towards cracking that, for sure”. 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.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA-Maria Sharapova advanced to the third round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Aliaksandra Sasnovich, staying on course for a potential quarter-final meeting with Serena Williams. He wrapped up the match in just 93 minutes when hitting a thumping backhand victor down the line on his third match point.

On paper, the 90th ranked Taiwanese was no match for Williams.

“She’s a tricky opponent who I think was a good match-up for me”, Williams said.

Hsieh, the world No90, did her best to get Williams running, even throwing in the odd drop-shot return of serve.

Kei Nishikori (7), Japan, def. Austin Krajicek, United States, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3. “It was hot so I was glad to get it done in three sets”, said Murray.

“It’s always great support from Michael”. “He was playing incredible in the last set… more aggressive than me”. “He’s a very nice guy outside of the court – on the court he’s very tough”.

Bondarenko, who defeated Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the opening round, beat the 23rd-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 7-5. She reached the quarterfinals at the Australian and U.S. Opens – the first and final majors of the year. “Every time I step on the court it feels special”. “Suddenly I missed tennis so much so I decide to come back and compete again”.

The earliest they could meet at the Australian Open would be the semi-finals.

“To win against Rafa here coming from two sets down is unbelievable, ” the No. 45-ranked Verdasco said.

Venus Williams was eliminated in the first round by Johanna Konta.

British number one Johanna Konta has secured one of the most significant wins of her career by knocking Venus Williams out in the first round of the Australian Open.

Six-times Melbourne Park champion Serena, who is also playing her 16th Australian Open, said having family around on the tour was a real bonus.

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic took his first steps toward a sixth Aussie title with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over Chung Hyeon of South Korea, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga wrapped up play on the first day with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win Monday over Marcos Baghdatis in a match that featured two former finalists.

Roger Federer extended his streak by reaching the third round for his 17th consecutive Australian Open.

Fernando Verdasco can finally replace the memory off an epic failure with a glorious triumph after stunning fifth seed Rafa Nadal at the Australian Open on Tuesday.