Serena Williams accomplished straight-sets win over Russia’s Vera Zvonareva, reaching the third round of the Australian Open. The American top seed, 33, came through a tight first set to win 7-5 6-0 as the temperature reached 33C in Melbourne. Williams had to be on her mettle from the start after following some early resistance from former world number two Vera Zvonareva. Once the 18-time grand slam singles champion got up to speed, however, she cruised away her opponent. Williams said she had to transition quickly to get past such an experienced player in the second round. After breaking Williams’ serve twice in the first set, Zvonareva only won eight points in the second set and didn’t get close to another break-point chance.
Williams said she only started finding her range when she relaxed.
“She started out really well, she was really aggressive and I was a little too passive,” said Williams, the top seed.
“Once I got down I thought ‘Serena, you’ve done so well here you’ve got nothing to lose, just have fun and enjoy
yourself’ — then I started to play a lot better.”
She said she was thinking: ”This girl has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the world … she’s a very quality player, she knows what to do.”
“Things really clicked. I had no other option but for things to click,” the American told reporters as she moved into the third round and within sight of a potential quarter-final with Azarenka.
Men’s No. 1 Novak Djokovic had an easier run, spending a minute less than Williams on Rod Laver Arena in his 84-minute, 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 win over No. 88-ranked Andrey Kuznetsov on Thursday.
“First two sets definitely have been great,” said Djokovic. “Overall I executed the game plan. Everything I intended to do, almost 100 per cent, from every second in my game, serve, baseline play, aggressive shots and aggressive returns. “He dropped his first-serve per centage a lot in the second set and obviously allowed me to have a lot of looks at the second serves. That, as well, gave me an opportunity to step in and just swing through the ball.”
Williams faces a tricky third round match against another of the new young guns in Spanish world number 24 Garbine Muguruza, who beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-1, 0-6, 6-1.
Djokovic next faces No. 31 seed Fernando Verdasco, who hit 15 aces to beat Go Soeda 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(3).
Serena Williams vs. Zvonareva V., 22/01/2015, 01:15 GMT, Match Center
Next match: Serena Williams vs Elina Svitolina: Head to Head
Novak Djokovic vs Andrey Kuznetsov, 22/01/2015, 03:00 GMT, Match Center
Next match: Novak Djokovic vs Fernando Verdasco: Head to Head
Australian Open: Serena Williams & Novak Djokovic into third round
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