Second seed Serena Williams experienced little difficulty during her 6-3, 6-4, triumph over Lucie Safarova.
Embarking on her first meeting with Safarova since the 2015 French Open final, Williams was aware that she faced a somewhat different opponent. Since their encounter on the Paris clay courts, the Czech has slid down the rankings to outside the world’s top 60 due to injury setbacks as well as illness.
Snippets of both players impressive shot-making was on display. Safarova made use of some aggressive groundstrokes from her forehand side as Williams dictated with her power. The game plan of Williams was evident, crush her opponents fragile second serve. A slow second serve from the Czech was returned with interest from the 35-year-old as she broke for a 5-3 lead. The breakthrough sealed the first set as an ace the American secured the lead.
The second set was a case of deja vu. Once again, both players were delighting the crowd with their shots, but Williams’ power proved too much for Safarova. In an almost identical fashion to earlier in the match, the patchy serving for the unseeded player lead to her fall. A double fault moved Williams to a set and a break as she served that match out. An ace secured her first match point before an overcooked backhand drew proceedings back to deuce. Williams finally triumphed on her third opportunity when a breathtaking 17-shot rally ended with the Czech hitting the ball out.
“It’s never easy having to play someone in the second round that you have seen in the final on the biggest stage of tennis.” The 35-year-old said after her win.
“It wasn’t easy, but I’m really happy I got through that.”
During her latest win, the 22-time grand slam champion produced 15 aces and 35 winners. Her only downfall occurred behind her second serve, where she could only clinch 11/27 points available (41%). Safarova is the second former top 10 player Williams has beaten in Melbourne following her opening round win over Belinda Bencic.
“I definitely played two really tough opponents, two former top 10 (players).” Williams said about her start to this year’s Australian Open. “It’s a great way to start the tournament. It’s not going to get any easier, so I think that was pretty good.”
Williams will play world No.92 Nicola Gibbs in the third round.
Veteran Stuns Radwanska
Williams enters the last 32 in Melbourne with the absence of third seed Agnieszka Radwanska. The Polish player was crushed 6-3, 6-2, by veteran player Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.
Making her Melbourne debut back in 1998, Lucic-Baroni had only recorded one main draw win at the event in her career before this year. Nevertheless, her attacking play overwhelmed the third seed as she fired 33 winners throughout the 64-minute match.
“It’s amazing, oh my God,” said Lucic-Baroni. “It’s been so long since I won a match or two (at a Grand Slam). Actually as I’m getting older, it seems like I’m getting better.
“I knew until the very last point I would have to fight… I was able to do that and stay calm. My heart is so full. I’m so happy.”
Lucic-Baroni’s win comes on the 19th anniversary of her first major achievement. At the age of 15 she teams up with Martina Hingis to win the 1998 Australian Open doubles title in what was her first and so far only triumph in a major tournament. She also reached the finals in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon later that year.
“I was a little baby back then,” she says of her early success. “Now, I can be maybe more relaxed. I said to myself today on the court, don’t worry, be happy.”
The Croat will play Greece’s Maria Sakkari next, who defeated Alize Cornet in three sets.
