Dominant Djokovic marches on in Melbourne

Djokovic, the five-time champ of the season’s first grand slam event, dispatched the 52nd-ranked Chung 3-0 (6-3, 6-2, 6-4) at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. He lost in the third round in his first two trips to Melbourne Park in 2000 and ’01 and again last year – in between he won the title four times and lost one final during a run of reaching the semifinals or better in 11 straight years.

At 34, Serena is the oldest No. 1-ranked player in WTA history. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

Tennis’ governing bodies rejected claims they covered up or ignored evidence related to match fixing in the wake of an investigation that claimed grand slam winners were among a group of 16 players “who have repeatedly been reported for losing games when highly suspicious bets have been placed against them”.

Williams had a career comeback season in 2015, winning three titles, finding some consistency after a long struggle with illness and finishing the year in the top 10 for the first time since 2010.

But it is Fernando Verdasco who advances, avenging an Australian semifinal loss to his friend Nadal seven years ago.

Venus Williams has been fined $5,000 by tournament organizers for skipping a news conference after her first-round exit at the Australian Open. “I was able to stay in it and stay calm today and that’s what matters most”.

On the men’s side, sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych, a semifinalist previous year, opened his 50th consecutive major by beating Yuki Bhambri 7-5, 6-1, 6-2, and No. 7 Kei Nishikori had a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Roger Federer has heard enough speculation about match-fixing in tennis.

“I haven’t played in a long time, but I have been playing for 30 years so – I try to focus on that”, said Williams, who withdrew from the Hopman Cup earlier this month after playing just one set because of inflammation in her left knee.

Murray, who has lost in all four finals he has contested at Melbourne Park, broke Zverev’s serve to open the second and third sets and dominated his opponent throughout.

Whether or not her comments can be taken at face value, writing off Williams for whatever reason is a unsafe business and it would be no surprise at all if she swatted Giorgi aside as she embarks on her bid for a seventh singles title.

Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic was up a service break and leading qualifier Anastasija Sevastova 4-3 in the first set of their third-round match when play was stopped to allow medical personnel to come to the aid of the spectator.

“I’m not going to talk about it much just because I want the book to do the talking”.

The 17-times grand slam champion shone under the lights of Rod Laver Arena to wrap up the match in one hour and 12 minutes, putting on a clinic of clean hitting. “She’s extremely young. Very unsafe”.

A double fault at 6-6 in the first-set tie-break was enough to give Verdasco an early lead, but Nadal looked to have ridden the storm when he clinched the next two sets – the first following a thrilling rally, which ended with Nadal roaring and pumping his fists.