Serena Williams continued to draw inspiration from her strength as she secures yet another smooth passage through the draw with a convincing victory against Nina Stojanovic to reach the third round of the Australian Open for the 19th time on Wednesday.
Williams only dropped just five games in her first two matches as it would appear she is in a hurry which also is a good thing as she needs all the rest she can get on course for her 24th Grand Slam title.
She was however tested in the first set on Wednesday by 99th-ranked Serbian Nina Stojanovic but weathered the early storm to secure a 6-3 6-0 win and set up a third-round clash with Russian teenager Anastasia Potapova.
Williams, whose one-legged catsuit is inspired by former sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner said: “Actually, this outfit was last minute to be honest. I just felt like the design that we had before wasn’t as Serena-esque, and so the Nike team went back and created something very Serena-like and didn’t have time to put it in retail, so it was definitely more of a last-minute outfit than usual.
“It’s light. It’s actually breathable and it’s perforated, so it’s actually super light and to a point where I need to make sure I’m wearing underwear (laughing).
“I kept texting them after every day, I’m like, Oh, my God, this is one of my favourites, this is definitely top three, definitely top three for me.”
Watch the highlights of Serena Williams vs Nina Stojanovic below
Bianca Andreescu‘s return to a Grand Slam tourney ended agonisingly in the second-round after she was defeatead by Hsieh Su-Wei.
The winner of the US Open tourney in 2019 was playing her first tournament in 15 months but her stay in Melbourne was ended prematurely by a 6-3 6-2 loss to the ever-tricky Hsieh.
She said: “I got off the court and I was looking at my coach, and I said, ‘I’m just disappointed that today that was my all’, because I know I gave my all today and to me I think that was the most disappointing part.
“She played really well. I have to give credit to her. I definitely have to get back into the groove of things, and hopefully that will be sooner (rather) than later.”
Andreescu had a stellar 2019 which saw her rocket up the rankings, culminating in her run to the title in New York, but has been impaired by a worrying number of injuries for such a young player, with a knee problem behind her lengthy lay-off.
The eighth seed said: “I think now it’s just getting back into play, and it’s good to know that I still have that fighting spirit in me. I feel really good. After my first round I thought I would feel more exhausted but I felt amazing.
“I don’t feel at my best on the court for sure, but I’m super happy that I’m finally back after being off for so long. It’s just such an amazing feeling being back, doing what I love.”
The 35-year-old from Chinese Taipei has bamboozled many an opponent with her unconventional style and she kept Andreescu at arm’s length throughout the contest.
Also, 9th seed Petra Kvitova having reached the final in Melbourne in 2019 and the quarter-finals last year could not make it past the second round this time out.
Her tournament is over already after a 6-4 1-6 6-1 defeat by Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.
“I was one of the few in hard quarantine. I think it’s impressive to come out of 15 days without hitting a ball and competing the way I did today, I wasn’t expecting it,” said Cirstea, who will next face Czech Marketa Vondrousova.
Really rooting for Serena. May this be the 24th title for her.
Serena still going strong
I’ll tip Serena to get herr 24th Slam in this one.
This is lit!