Djokovic denies match-fixing allegations

Twelve months ago, Andreas Seppi posted one of the upsets of the year as he stunned Roger Federer in the third round of the Australian Open.

World number one Novak Djokovic has strenuously denied any connection to match-fixing.

Maria Sharapova also weathered a fightback when she beat pint-sized American Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-0, helped by a strategic break and change of dress, for her 600th career win.

Djokovic, champion for five of the last eight years at Melbourne Park, played a rare match away from Rod Laver Arena but still proved too strong for Italian Andreas Seppi, securing his 210th grand slam victory 6-1 7-5 7-6(6). “He’s going to play aggressive”.

Serena Williams dispatched of Daria Kasatkina in 44 minutes in a 6-1, 6-1 whitewashing to win her 10th consecutive match at the Australian Open.

Shaking hands at the net, the ruthless champion offered words of encouragement to the obviously out-matched Russian, apparently complementing the youngster’s backhand. Dimitrov, who has a similar playing style to the Swiss star and was even nicknamed “Baby Fed” when he first came on tour, hasn’t beaten Federer in four meetings.

“We need facts, not suppositions”, tweeted Martina Navratilova, a victor of 18 Grand Slam singles titles.

“I started the match very well”, said Djokovic. He’s not really overwhelmed by a big occasion….It’s going to be a tough one. “I think he did well in Sydney, and that definitely also gave him a bit of a lift if he takes the positives out of the tournament…so he’s on a high right now”. Yeah, you look deeper into it, I guess, where it’s all happened and how. Yeah, so it’s very nice. Neither player could find a way to break, and the set proceeded to a tiebreak.

Gavrilova, 21, outlasted Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic 6-4 4-6 11-9, keeping Australia in the running to end its 38-year title drought in the women’s main draw.

Once again she endeared herself to a nation known for its larrikinism, reacting in shock when she produced a delicious, unintended faux pas in her courtside interview which left the crowd in stitches.

With the roof closed and play on outdoor courts delayed because of steady rain, the 12th-seeded Bencic overcame a slow start to dominate the final two sets of the 1 hour, 50-minute match.

The cooler head of Czech Tomas Berdych eventually prevailing 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in the third round match.

Kei Nishikori had some trouble with his wrist, taking a medical timeout and losing the next set before recovering to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win Friday over No. 26-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.