Serena expecting sister Venus back in Melbourne next year

Aljaz Bedene, Britain’s number two who has switched nationality from Slovenia, lost 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7/3) to America’s Steve Johnson while qualifier Dan Evans was also beaten in straight sets, defeated 6-1 6-0 6-4 to Feliciano Lopez, the eighth seed from Spain.

“Obviously I wanted to play to get some match play”.

Victoria Azarenka, who won the Brisbane International title to open the year, is in her best form since capturing back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2012 and 2013.

The 34-year-old American, who dropped only three matches in 56 last season, came under pressure in the third game but held firm to maintain the advantage before Hsieh finally got on the scoreboard by holding serve for 1-3. Djokovic had already spent four hours and 50 minutes overcoming Andy Murray in the semifinal just two days earlier.

The second break proved vital as Konta wasted a set point as her serve faltered for the first time, allowing Williams to give herself hope after then holding at 5-4. The bespectacled Chung was making only his third Grand Slam appearance after playing at last year’s Wimbledon and US Open, but he was churned by the prospect of facing the premier tennis player on the other side of the net. But before the seven-time Grand Slam champion could regain any momentum, Konta closed out the match on her next serve.

“I think it’s going to be very tough, to be honest”, Federer said. “I’d like to one day spend most of my time on these stages”.

“It’s great. It was an hour and 43 minutes and I didn’t feel it at all”.

Asked over the weekend about the difficulty of the second week, Sharapova said, “I look at the draw and I know who’s here”. Fans expected her to continue building on the solid performances she pieced together in 2015, when she advanced to the quarterfinals here and at the U.S. Open. The two have met just twice before – on clay – and Williams won in straight sets both times. The last South Korean to compete at the Australian Open was Lee Hyung-taik in 2008.

“It’s always great support from Michael”.

“I retired because I had a baby and I didn’t really think to come back”, the Ukrainian said after the match.

Maria Sharapova (5), Russia, def. Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Belarus, 6-2, 6-1.

Roberta Vinci (13), Italy, def. Irina Falconi, United States, 6-2, 6-3. Petkovic was the 13th seed and world number 16 but Konta – 63rd in the rankings – emerged victorious 6-4 7-5.