Australian Open: Roger Federer Celebrates 300th Grandslam Win

While Williams looked typically calm and focussed as she walked onto Rod Laver Arena, Kasatkina seemed overawed by the occasion.

The pair were meeting for the second time, with Konta having won in French Open qualifying two years ago, and she moved 3-1 ahead thanks to some aggressive returning.

Roger Federer extended his streak by reaching the third round for the 17th straight Australian Open, and registered his 299th match win at a major.

The American, who dropped only three matches in 56 last season, made few mistakes in a dominant display and broke in the first game of the second set with outgunned Kasatkina struggling against the Williams weaponry.

Despite the short stint on Laver, Kasatkina said it was a great experience, especially after Serena complimented her forehand at the net.

All Offers and Promotions posted in this article excludes NSW residents. “But I feel very lucky to have so many people out there supporting”. “I mean, it’s the least I expect to be in the third round of a Slam, obviously, so I’m pumped up, playing well, feeling good”.

Federer will next play Grigor Dimitrov, who beat Marco Trungelliti 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Agnieszka Radwanska said her confidence was soaring after she overcame Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard 6-4, 6-2 to reach the third round. “The problem was I probably wasn’t playing the right tactics against her. I thought I should work more with her backhand with high balls instead of trying to push her out of position”.

The 10-time Grand Slam champion survived two set points in a final set tiebreaker before completing a 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (8/6) win and his 12th straight over Seppi, and will now play Frenchman Gilles Simon.

She was an unusually long time coming into her press conference after beating Kasatkina and did not appear thrilled to be there at all (her sister Venus left the tournament without a word, after losing to Johanna Konta) but perked up when asked some inane questions about her dress.

Djokovic, seeking his sixth Australian Open title, plays No. 28-seeded Andreas Seppi.

In the second, the 18-year-old appeared to be succumbing to the pressure as she made consecutive double-faults to hand her illustrious opponent an early and easy break.

This was the first time Kasatkina and Williams played, but it may not be their last.

The seven-time major champion was fined $3,000 for the same offence at last year’s French Open after she lost to fellow American Sloane Stephens. Williams, who plays later Friday, has been a huge weight around Sharapova’s neck throughout her career, with the Russian unable to beat her since 2004.

“All I can say is that I have definitely gained more experience because of the situations I have been in since”, she said. I’ve lost that match.