Serena Williams has overcome a spirited Nina Stojanovic 6-3 6-0 on a sun-drenched Rod Laver Arena to reach the third round of the Australian Open for the 19th time.
Again sporting her distinctive one-legged leotard, the American needed to find her best game at times in the first set against a Serbian 15 years her junior, who was playing in her fourth Grand Slam.
Of course, Williams has won seven major titles at Melbourne Park alone and ramped up her serve to see off the danger, before putting the pressure back on her opponent with some booming service returns.
"She pushed me really hard and played well throughout the match," the 39-year-old says. "I wasn't thinking so much in the second set."
The second set was one-way traffic and Williams fired down her sixth ace of the contest to seal a date with Anastasia Potapova, taking another step on the path she hopes will end with a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.
"Thank you for your comment"
Taiwanese giantkiller Hsieh Su-wei has offered a token of advice during her oncourt interview, after upsetting former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu 6-3 6-2 at the Australian Open.
Congratulated by an interviewer at Rod Laver Arena for "still going strong" at the age of 35, Hsieh held a finger to her lips, shook her head and laughed.
"Just little reminder, in Asia, we normally don't say the girl's age in the public," she said, triggering laughter and applause in the stands.
"You look like you've got plenty more years left," the interviewer persisted, digging his hole a bit deeper.
"I look a little bit younger, but I try my best standing here," Hsieh replied. "Thank you for your comment."
Kaohsiung-born Hsieh is the world's top-ranked doubles player, but also has an impressive resume in singles, after beating some of the world's biggest names at Grand Slams with her unorthodox double-sided game.
She toppled third seed Garbine Muguruza at the 2018 Australian Open on the way to the fourth round and dumped then world No.1 Simona Halep out of Wimbledon in the same year.
Reuters
