Venus Williams fined after defeat to Johanna Konta at Australian Open

Venus Williams has been fined $5,000 by tournament organizers for skipping a news conference after her first-round exit at the Australian Open.

Fernando Verdasco rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win the last two sets, recovering a break in the fifth as well, and claim a 7-6 (6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, only his third victory in 17 matches against his fellow Spanish lefthander.

“I would assume. She’s never mentioned anything about not being here, not competing”.

Konta had tested Williams in the fall of a year ago, dropping a tough three-setter in the Wuhan quarterfinals, and couldn’t help but be disappointed when she learned that she’d have to go toe-to-toe with the seven-time major champion in Melbourne’s first round.

“I don’t know about other players, but for myself, I really loved to play against Serena because it was a real challenge for myself”, said the popular Li, who retired in 2014 to settle down and have children.

Andy Murray finds it “hypocritical” that tennis authorities are trying to stamp out match-fixing run by gambling syndicates but have partnered with a major gambling company that is now advertising on the Australian Open’s show courts.

Konta, who had previously lost to Williams in Wuhan previous year, will play China’s Sasai Zheng in the second round on Tuesday. Williams wrote that she asked the man if he had accidentally taken the wrong phone, and he gave it back.

Williams was consistently firing down serves 30 kph (18.6 mph) faster than Hsieh and it was taking its toll, with weak returns opening up the court for the top seed who made the most of her opportunities and sealed the match with an ace.

Impressively calm and focused, Konta reeled off the next five games to put Williams on the ropes in the second, but the oldest competitor in this year’s draw demonstrated her trademark grit to whittle away at the deficit, closing to 5-2.

“She’s a tricky opponent who I think was a good match-up for me”, Williams said.

“This really casts a very dark shadow on our sport right now”, Mary Jo Fernandez said on ESPN, as part of a panel discussion Wednesday on the controversy.

Federer improved his career record against the Ukrainian player to 3-0 without facing a break point in the 93-minute match.

Sharapova dropped two service games in the first set, including once when serving at 5-1, but was otherwise consistent except for some over-hit ground strokes.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova beat Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum, avenging her upset loss in the first round here in 2014, and No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska beat Christina McHale 6-2, 6-3.

The six-time and defending champion beat No. 90-ranked Hsieh Su-wei 6-1, 6-2, an all-time record 79th main draw match at the Australian Open.

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. “That’s why I’ve been playing really well”, Nishikori said.

She hit 26 winners, including one around the post that she thought may have been a first for her, at age 34. “I had to serve well and as the match went on I started to feel better and better”.

She said she was excited to be injury-free and in with a chance of recapturing her former glories in Melbourne.

Light rain is falling at Melbourne Park, delaying the start of play on side courts at the Australian Open on Wednesday.