Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has overcame a second-set blip to beat American Madison Brengle 6-0 6-4 and reach the third round, staying on course for a potential clash with world No.1 Ash Barty.
The Japanese 24-year-old, who also won the 2019 title, will next meet 60th-ranked American Amanda Anisimova with a mouthwatering clash against Australian Barty potentially waiting in the round of 16.
Brengle won just nine points in the first set, as an aggressive Osaka served superbly, facing no breakpoints and returning strongly to breeze through the set in just 20 minutes.
Fifty-fourth-ranked Brengle, 31, had a big smile, as the Rod Laver Arena crowd cheered her first service-game win at the start of the second set, as Osaka's game dipped.
But the two-time US Open winner soon regained control and sealed the win after 65 minutes on her first matchpoint, with a second break of serve in the set.
Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev shrugged off a rowdy centrecourt crowd to sail into the third round, with an impressive 6-4 6-4 6-0 win over local journeyman John Millman.
The rangy German appeared determined to belt the cover off the ball through the two-hour romp and world No.89 Millman was powerless to withstand the firepower, despite enjoying support in the terraces.
Now an Olympic champion, after claiming the singles gold at Tokyo, Zverev has his sights set on the Grand Slam club in the absence of the deported Novak Djokovic.
Late last season, Zverev declared himself part of a likely 'Big Three' in 2022, with world No.1 Djokovic and US Open champion Daniil Medvedev.
He certainly looked the part, as he ramped up the pressure in the third set, thrashing the Aussie into submission with his thumping forehand through a series of baseline battles.
Firing a two-handed backhand rocket down the line to raise matchpoint, Zverev claimed the contest with a huge first serve to set up a third-round match with Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot.
After dumping the local boy out, Zverev drew plenty of boos from terraces, but says he's happy for any kind of reaction, as long as fans could be at stadiums in the pandemic era.
Reuters
