Johanna Konta shocks Venus Williams at Australian Open

Petra Kvitova became the latest women’s top-10 player to fall, joining Simona Halep and Venus Williams on the sidelines when she was shocked 6-4, 6-4 by Australian giant-killer Daria Gavrilova.

Djokovic said the speculation was getting out of control.

Williams was on course for a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2015 with wins here and at the French Open and Wimbledon before a semifinal loss at the U.S. Open to Roberta Vinci of Italy.

Six-times Melbourne Park champion Serena, who is also playing her 16th Australian Open, said having family around on the tour was a real bonus. “The weather changes. Overall, I’m just happy that I could get the match in because I know many players are waiting for the rain to stop”. “I don’t have any inflammation anymore”, Williams said.

After an explosive report claimed some top players were suspected of being serial match-fixers, Chris Eaton, director of integrity at the International Centre of Sport Security, said corruption was commonplace in tennis’s lower tiers.

Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova are also in action, while Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, a semi-finalist in 2014, faces her hardest assignment yet after coming back from slipping and suffering concussion at the US Open.

Murray defeated German teenager Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 to reach round two, while Djokovic comfortably disposed of France’s Quentin Halys 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 to make it into to the third round.

The upset results took some focus off the match-fixing allegations that have overshadowed the first two days of the season’s first major.

“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”, said Federer. “Like past year the third round was the end for me, so I hope to go further this time”.

“But there’s always a danger, you know”.

Against Konta, however, she struggled to connect with her first serve and couldn’t match the Australian-born Konta’s power from the baseline.

She was taking a liking to Williams’ serve as well and got her first break in the third game to lead 2-1 and was then grateful for a raft of unforced errors as she got a second break to lead 5-2.

Other seeded players advancing included No. 6 Tomas Berdych, No. 7 Kei Nishikori and 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic.

“It all started here”.

Sharapova was finished in 71 minutes Wednesday on Rod Laver Arena, the first match completed on day three after light rain caused delays on outside courts.

Williams has had so much success for such a long time that even in a second-round match she can set a record at the season’s first Grand Slam event. Win or lose, there is always a next time for me and for them.

Venus Williams’ dreams of winning a first Australian Open title at the age of 35 were shattered today when she was beaten 6-4 6-2 in the first round by British number one Johanna Konta.