Defense the key for Djokovic, Williams at Australian Open

The two-time Australian Open champion hasn’t given up more than three games in any of the 14 sets she has played this year, including her run to the title at the Brisbane International two weeks ago.

“Having to play somebody for the first time, especially somebody that is as young as him, he’s only 19, it can be tricky”, said Djokovic after the win.

In only his second first-round loss at a major tournament, the oft-injured 29-year-old fought for four hours, 41 minutes before the inspired Verdasco won 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.

Williams cut short her 2015 season after defeat in the US Open semi-finals ended her bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam, and she pulled out of this month’s Hopman Cup with an inflamed knee.

“I haven’t played in a long time, but I have been playing for 30 years, so it’s kind of – I try to focus on that”, said Williams, who dropped only one service game against Giorgi.

With Williams’ knee giving her problems in the latter half of 2015 and in the lead-up to Melbourne Park, the Italian did her best to push her around the court but the top seed was moving freely and held for 1-1.

“I really don’t count the games”, she said after Thursday’s match.

American Denis Kudla took the first two sets before his opponent retired in the third. “It will be great if I can play against her”, said the confident Spanish world number three.

Bouchard is playing in only her fourth tournament since sustaining a concussion when she fell in the dressing room at last year’s U.S. Open.

Williams, who has an 11-year dominance over Sharapova, is the favorite in Melbourne but faces a strong crop of resurgent and determined players.

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russian Federation slips on the court during her second round match against Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016.

Kvitova won her Wimbledon titles in 2011 and 2014.

No. 24 Sloane Stephens, who beat Serena Williams in the 2013 Australian Open quarterfinals, went out in a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Chinese qualifier Wang Qiang.

Novak Djokovic refused to get sidetracked by sapping heat as he eased past Chung Hyeon to kick off his quest for a record-equalling sixth Australian Open title on Monday. He doled out chocolates at his first meeting with media at previous Australian Open tournaments and it’s worked – no man has won more titles here than Djokovic in the Open era.

Elsewhere, Czech sixth seed Tomáš Berdych thrashed India’s Yuki Bhambri 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 and Japanese seventh seed Kei Nishikori defeated Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

The 19-year-old, ranked 328th in the world, earned his first Grand Slam victory with a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5) success against the Frenchman. “I think… I got broken once, but other than that I was able to stay focused on that part”.

Serena Williams has swiftly moved through to the third round at Melbourne Park with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei in exactly one hour.

However, the day was overshadowed by a report which said top-50 players, including Grand Slam champions, had repeatedly been suspected of match-fixing without facing action.