Serena Williams eases past Hantuchova - Australian Open

Serena Williams means only business and she showed that in her match today against Daniela Hantuchova. Serena Williams was 8-1 against Hantuchova when she walked onto the Rod Laver Arena today. However, Serena's lone loss came in the very same tournament back in 2006.

Hantuchova had said in a press conference yesterday that her grand slam career has been kind of destroyed by the Williams sisters. Serena once again defeated the Slovakian player, ensuring she does not advance beyond the third round.

The first set was a competitive set of tennis, the major difference being the break point conversion rate. Serena created and converted only one break point. Hantuchova created 5 break point chances but failed to convert a single one. Serena won the first set 6-3

Hantuchova finally converted a break point in the second set to break Williams serve, but that was the only thing Hantuchova could take from Serena. Serena converted 3 of the 6 break points she created in the second set to seal victory in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Serena Williams now awaits the winner of Ana Ivanovic vs Samantha Stosur. The two play at night in the Rod Laver Arena.

Quotable Quotes - Australian Open Day Four

Australian Open finally saw the implementation of the heat rule on the fourth day. There were some epic encounters. Sharapova toughed it out against Knapp, Navarro outlasted Voskoboeva, Delpotro was stunned by Spanish Roberto Bautista Agut. Federer and Nadal had routine wins.

Sharapova and Knapp raised concerns regarding heat rule, but it was Roger Federer who won the quote of the day award. 

Let us see what the players had to say

Roger Federer

Roger Federer

“I like the check‑ins at airports.  Packing the bags is good fun.  What else?  Playing in 42 degrees heat (laughter).” – when asked what is the best part of being Roger Federer

“Wouldn't win because these guys are already winning, so...” in response to the question ‘Andy Murray was asked a fun question the other day.  If there was an imaginary tournament of the player with the legendary coach, he thought that he and Lendl would win.  Hewitt said that he and Patrick would win.  How do you think you and Stefan would step up?’

“Thank you for the compliment.  Finally I get one (smiling).  It's been a while.” – when told that he moved well.

Juan Martin Del Potro

Juan Martin Del Potro

“I think sometimes the favorites lose very early in a Grand Slam, like Federer in Wimbledon or Rafa, and then other ones in the US Open.  Here is my chance to get out very early in the tournament.” – when aksed he was one of the favourites to make out his section of draw

Andy Murray

“So I think obviously after the tournament's finished, I'm sure there will be some discussions between the ATP, and the ITF to maybe shore up the rules a little bit and make it a little bit, you know, easier for everybody to understand.” – when asked if the tournament officials have been fair with the heat policy

Milos Raonic

“But I do like to watch him play.” – when asked does he watch Dimitrov much

Sloane Stephens

“Nashville, The Good Wife.  Scandal.  I watch Scandal every week.  My little shows I watch on my computer.  That's pretty much it.  I don't like to do much.  Pretty low key.” – when asked what shows she watches

"Yeah.  Like, yeah, it was intense.  Like that's the worst thing, to be outside when it's lightning or to be in the middle of the ocean like by yourself." – when asked if she could see the lighting from the court.

Victoria Azarenka

“A little bit.  Just a little bit.  I saw a little bit match of Tsonga and that's it.  And Rafa a little bit.” – when asked did she watch any other match.

“Actually my grandmother named me that.  I had have to thank her because my parents wanted to call my Daria, and I don't think that suits me at all.” – when asked about the story of her name.

Vasek Posposil

“Yeah, no, I mean, it seems I don't want to play him.  Retired against him twice now.  Really unfortunate injury for me.” When asked if he was aftraid to play Stanislas Wawrinka

Rafael Nadal

"I never felt the crowd against me.  I felt most of the times the crowd behind me, and that's something I just can say thank you very much to the Australian fans." – when asked does he feel pressure playing a local player at their home slam.

Caroline Wozniacki

"I think you always believe you can win, but you still have quite a few matches to go.  So I'm just thinking one match at a time." – when asked if she felt like she was playing like she can win the title.

Karin Knapp

"I think you always believe you can win, but you still have quite a few matches to go.  So I'm just thinking one match at a time." – when asked about heat rules

Maria Sharapova

"I asked the trainer the other day, What does it take for the roof to be closed or matches to be stopped?  She said, We have no control over this." – when asked about the heat rules.

Juan Martin Del Potro stunned in the Australian Open second round

Juan Martin Del Potro

Roberto Bautista Agut, the young Spanish player posted his first top 5 win as he dismantled Juan Martin Delpotro to book a spot in the third round winning 4-6 6-3 5-7 6-4 7-5.

The most telling stat of the match was the break point conversion. Del Potro converted just 4 of the 17 break point chances he got, while Agut utilised 5 of the 8 chances he created.

Del Potro won the first set 6-4 and did not face a break point. In the second set, Agut converted the only break point he created while Del Potro failed to convert any of the 5 break points he created, and Agut ended up winning the set 6-3.

As the match went on, Agut kept up his aggressive tactics, lost a tight third set, however, from then on he matched Del Potro in every aspect and forced him to play from far behind the baseline and it paid the dividends as he went on to win the fourth and the fifth sets to earn the biggest win of his career and move into the third round of Grand Slam for the first time.

Any thoughts on the upset?

Navarro oulasts Voskoboeva in Australian Open

As Maria Sharapova and Karin Knapp were engaged in a thrilling encounter , Carla Saurez Navarro and Galina Voskoboveva made sure that the people watching their match on the show court 2, got their money's worth.

Carla Saurez Navarro won a tight first set in the tie-break 7-6(2), winning 5 more points than her opponent. Second serve return let Voskoboeva down as she won just 3 of the 11 points played on Navarro's second serve.

Voskoboeva upped her aggression in the second set posting a +2 winner-unforced error differential, Navarro on the other hand had -2 differential. Better return of second serve helped her cause and she succeeded in forcing the decider as she took the second set 6-3.

As the third set started, errors began creeping into Voskoboeva's game and Navarro welcomed those errors and won the enthralling 81 minutes 3rd set 8-6.

Navarro will try to recover from the heat and exhaustion and be ready for another battle against Dominika Cibulkova in the third round, who had a very easy match winning 6-0 6-1 over Stefanie Voegele.

Interesting Stat : Cibulkova's win took less time than the first set of the Navarro-Voskoboeva match. Cibulkova won in 57 minutes, whereas the first set of Navarro-Voskoboeva match lasted 60 minutes.

Muguruza sets Wozniacki clash in Australian Open

Garbine Muguruza, who has been dubbed as a talent to watch, eased past Anna Schmiedlova in the second round of Australian Open. Muguruza defeated Schmiedlova 6-3 6-3 to set a date with former World no.1 Caroline Wozniacki.

The winners-unforced errors differential tells the whole story of the match. In the first set Muguruza hit 13 winners to just 1 by Schmiedlova, though both players converted 100% of their break point chances. Schmiedlova broke Muguruza twice, but Muguruza went one step ahead breaking her opponent 3 times to seal the opener in just 28 minutes.

The second set last almost as long, as Muguruza blasted 11 winners past Schmiedlova and converted 3 of her 5 break point chances to win the set and match. The match lasted 1 hour and 7 minutes.

Muguruza will have her hands full in the next match, however, if she keeps up the aggression she showed today, she will definitely be up for an upset and a trip into the second week of Australian Open.

Wozniacki passes McHale Test

Caroline Wozniacki started off in flying colours as she baggled Christina McHale to win the first set in just 28 minutes. The difference between the two was clear, Wozniacki was the aggressive one of the two and McHale seemed to be error machine. McHale had 16 unforced errors to Wozniacki's 3 in the first set.

As the second set started, McHale cleaned her game and Wozniacki got error prone. McHale bread sticked Wozniacki to win the second set and force a decider. McHale had 7 unforced errors to Wozniacki's 14.

As the third set went started, both players went after each other, however, it was the break points that decided the third set. Wozniacki was 2 of 3 on break points, while McHale failed to convert either of the two chances she got, sending Wozniacki into the third round of Australian Open, where she will play Garbine Muguruza for a spot in the fourth round. The final score of the match was 6-0 1-6 6-2.

It was a sort of revenge and relief for Wozniacki to get the win, however, it should be an encouraging sign for McHale, who has not been the same player since she has returned to the tour after battling Mononucleosis.

Sharapova battles past Knapp and Heat in Australian Open

It was a straight match for Maria Sharapova at least on paper, when she walked on to the Rod Laver Arena to play Karin Knapp. For quite sometime it seemed that Sharapova will run away with the match in straight sets as she won the first set 6-3.

Knapp was not willing to go down without a fight, as she fought hard to take the second set 6-4 to force a decider. It was the third set where the battle really started.

Sharapova was the first to draw blood in the third set as she raced to a 3-1 lead in the decider. Knapp kept on fighting and brought the set back to serve by levelling at 3-all.

In the 7th game of the third set, Knapp saved 4 break points but Sharapova made it the fifth time and went up a break again. Sharapova served for the match at 5-4, but Knapp was not yet ready to go down as she fought off 3 match points to stay alive in the heated contest. I mean heated literally, with temperatures souring to 39 degrees Celcius and yes, it was Sharapova's double fault on the break point that gifted the break to Knapp.

Sharapova broke Knapp again at 8-all to serve for the match a second time. Sharapova known for her fighting instincts and never give up attitude, showed that when serving for the match. She threw in 3 double faults, one of which took her down a break point again. Sharapova overcame those 3 double faults to outlast heat and valiant efforts from Karin Knapp winning the third set 10-8.

Maria Sharapova is now into the third round of Australian Open where she will play Alize Cornet.