Djokovic wins, and again faces questions about match-fixing

Sharapova lost a grueling seventh game when serving from the opening set, but Sasnovich could not consolidate the break, and won just won more game in the 71 minute match.

The fifth-seeded Sharapova won the 2008 Australian title and has lost three finals at Melbourne Park, including last year’s decider against Williams.

“This is always a weird grand slam because you never quite know where you’re at with the top players”. My second match I thought, under the circumstances, I thought I played well.

Williams though was taking nothing for granted in only her second tour-level match since the US Open in September.

“I think your perspective changes; the game also develops and it becomes – I don’t know, you just have a different attitude about it”.

“She’s definitely a tricky opponent”, Williams said after her win. “Obviously it’s not an easy match, but I feel that I’ve been playing good and have quite a few matches behind my back already”, Dimitrov said.

The BBC and BuzzFeed reports said 16 players had been repeatedly flagged to tennis authorities for suspicious performances, including a Grand Slam victor, and half of them were at this year’s Australian Open. “I’m always very hard on myself”, she said.

Williams, 35, had no answer to Konta, ranked world number 47, who produced an assured display to secure a second round match against China’s Saisai Zheng.

Ignoring the announcements from a nearby tannoy controlling the crowds outside, she broke for 3-1, although had to fight off two break points to the Chinese player before getting to 5-2.

An Italian journalist was left licking his wounds yesterday after needling Serena Williams about a heartbreaking defeat at last year’s US Open.

Konta, 24, will now face Denise Allertova, the world No 66 from the Czech Republic, who upset former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

As a match-fixing controversy continued to reverberate at Melbourne Park, Williams swatted Hsieh Su-Wei 6-1, 6-2 to reach the third round as she seeks a record-equalling 22nd major title.

Media in Australia tried to claim Konta as one of their own after she cruised to a straight sets victory against nine-time grand slam champion Venus Williams.

Melbourne Park has three stadiums with retractable roofs – Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Hisense Arena. “And I moved much better today, so slowly but surely, feeling a little bit better”.

Playing on centre court against the top seed at a Grand Slam was a huge occasion for the 18-year-old, who was not only making her debut at the tournament but is on her first ever trip to Australia. She didn’t even play anything before the Oz Open.