Serena Williams into third round of Australian Open, but is far from best during win over Tamara Zidansek
Serena Williams moved into the third round with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Slovenia's Tamara Zidansek.
The only moments of concern for Williams and her fans came at 2-3 in the second set, when Zidansek had three chances to move a break ahead, but the eighth seed stood firm and did not lose a game from there.
Williams, who will next face 27th seed Wang Qiang, said: "It was a good match for me. She was a real good fighter and she didn't just let me win.
"I knew I had to step up or it was going to be a really long evening for me."
Serena speaks
It was a good match for me. She was a good fighter, she didn't just let me win, I guess! Everyone plays like that, it's nothing new. I made so many errors in a row, I had to battle through that through my own internal problems.
I knew I had to play better. I couldn't keep making errors like that, otherwise it was going to be a long evening for me.
Williams* 6-2, 6-3 Zidansek (*denotes next to serve)
Glimpses again of Zidansek's delicate groundstrokes as she delivers a forehand winner down the line. The game looks up for her now as her energy is draining from her as Serena keeps digging deep. At 30-all, Zidansek sends a return tamely into the middle to hand Serena a first match point.
Serena finishes it off with a forehand clean winner. GAME, SET AND MATCH: Serena Williams beats Tamara Zidansek 6-2, 6-3
Williams 6-2, 5-3 Zidansek* (*denotes next to serve)
Seven straight points now for Serena, who appears to have shaken off her last stuttering service game.
Zidansek halts Serena's momentum, but it's only temporarily as a successful challenge on a Zidansek forehand brings Serena to one game of the third round.
Williams* 6-2, 4-3 Zidansek (*denotes next to serve)
It's easy to forget this is only a second-round match such is the energy and passion coursing through Serena with every point. Trouble now for Zidansek on her serve, facing three break points. She breaks to love this time, quite incredibly. Has the match gone now for Zidansek. A big moment in this match. SERENA BREAKS TO LOVE.
Williams 6-2, 3-3 Zidansek* (*denotes next to serve)
Serena gesticulating after every point now, seemingly completely baffled by her string of audacious errors in Australia this evening. Luckily for her, she's still in this game at 30-all, but still the mistakes come, the forehand especially. She shrugs and looks at her racket as if to say 'what are you doing to me?' Break point now and she delivers a quite brilliant ace down the T but is all at sixes and sevens during the next rally as she tries to stay in the point with Zidansek almost toying with the seven-times champ here. It's another break point for Zidansek. Another one which Serena saves. This time an outswinging ace sets up game point with the clock now over the hour mark this match. But Zidansek won't go quietly, backing up a delightful forehand with a backhand winner down the line for deuce. Play is briefly held up for as the roof is finally closed. There's some moisture on the court which needs to be wiped away, all while the game is finely balanced at deuce.
Zidansek is successful at the net again, setting up another break point, but Serena's backhand gets her out of trouble. Serena finally, finally gets herself out of danger and unleashes another huge 'c'mon'.
Serena - up a set against Zidansek but 2 for 12 on break points - is fighting the emotions and herself again: screaming, imploring, tense.
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 22, 2020
Williams* 6-2, 2-3 Zidansek (*denotes next to serve)
Zidansek finds herself in similar territory on her serve again, starring down at three break points like her last service game.
The Russian saves the first, then the second with a clever drop shot out wide which has Serena beaten again. And from 0-40 down, it's deuce again when Serena pushes a serve into the middle. She certainly likes a scrap.
The drizzle is falling on Rod Laver Arena now as Zidansek edges to advantage and then game when Serena sends a return long. Serena looks at her racket in bewilderment.
Williams 6-2, 2-2 Zidansek* (*denotes next to serve)
Serena continuing to blow hot and cold on her service game. She's amassed a surprising 21 unforced errors compared to Zidansek's eight at this stage. At 30-all, Serena finds her A-game on her serve, that's her ace game with No 5 of the match.
Williams* 6-2, 1-2 Zidansek (*denotes next to serve)
Serena taking time between Zidansek serving points now to turn her back on the serve and gather her composure. If it's intended to give Zidansek extra time to ponder her next move. A double fault and then a stunning cross-court winner take Serena to three break points. Zidansek won't go down without a fight this game, charging the net and volleying a winner before striking a forehand early which catches Serena off guard on the baseline. From 0-40 down, the Russian is back to deuce and full of confidence again. Serena brings up another break point, unleashes another Serena roar but then falters at the net again. Zidansek holds her nerve to dig herself out of trouble, saving four break points in all to edge ahead again this set.
Williams 6-2, 1-1 Zidansek* (*denotes next to serve)
The roof continues to close on Rod Laver Arena while play continues, Serena serving well to lead 40-0 before errors creep in and allow Zidansek to hang around this game at 40-30. A week forehand into the middle brings the Russian back to deuce and Serena flashes a look to her corner to say 'I have no idea what that was about'. Thankfully for Serena, her trusty serve comes to her rescue.
Williams* 6-2, 0-1 Zidansek (*denotes next to serve)
Zidansek opens the second set with her third double of the match. Her body language doesn't suggest someone who is up for the fight as she dumps a forehand into the middle. She puffs out her cheeks lining up her next serve. She misses another first serve but is fortunate that Serena swipes and sends long. Zidansek has her energy stores lifted with a delicate forehand winner into the corner for 40-30 and a clever drop shot has Serena scampering, but unable to retrieve.
Williams 6-2 Zidansek* (*denotes next to serve)
Back into her stride on this service game for Serena, easing to three set points with some clean hitting. She takes it on the second set point of the game, wrapping up the set after 31 minutes. SERENA WINS OPENING SET.
Williams* 5-2 Zidansek (*denotes next to serve)
Gloomy clouds overhead with the roof partially closed on Rod Laver Arena, forecast is showing light showers so this might turn into an indoor match soon. Serena battles from 0-30 down to recover and win three straight points for a first set point. Serena flashes a service return long to miss her opening and then pulls a forehand wide and drills a backhand into the tramlines. She'll have to serve out the first set.
Lookin like end of days out there...
Big storm expected in the next hour or so. Or a bit after 9. Federer (2nd on RLA) wouldn’t mind a closed roof #AusOpenpic.twitter.com/v9yDduL8k1— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) January 22, 2020
Williams 5-1 Zidansek* (*denotes next to serve)
First ace for Serena as she starts to move up the gears. Zidansek keeps showing glimpses of her talents, moving Serena around the baseline and working the space for a winner. Luck is on her side when a ball skims the top of the tape, catching Serena off guard and allowing a split-second for the Russian to deliver another winner to pull back to 40-30.
From 40-15, Zidansek fights back for deuce when Serena pushes a backhand into the middle. The American throws in another extraordinary miss when she dumps an overhead into the foot of the net at game point which draws groans from the crowd on Rod Laver Arena. Serena finally gets over the line, but it was her toughest service game yet.
Williams* 4-1 Zidansek (*denotes next to serve)
Serena has another look at a break at 0-30 following a second double from Zidansek. Adrenalin pumping through the Russian now as she pushes long to face three break points. Serena shapes to deliver the killer blow with a backhand, but it pings back off the net, much to the dismay of Serena. Not to worry, she wraps up a second break swiftly after. SERENA BREAKS.
Williams 3-1 Zidansek* (*denotes next to serve)
Strong serving from Serena, hitting deep and causing Zidansek problems. The Russian draws level at 30-all when Serena pushes a forehand into the tape, and then misses a first serve. Zidansek takes advantage of a slower second serve, drifting a deliver forehand winner down the line for a first break point. She strikes long during the next rally to miss her chance and Serena follows up in typical Serena style, walloping a smash home before unleashing a Serena roar. She follows it up with a first 'C'Mon after seeing out the game.
Williams* 2-1 Zidansek (*denotes next to serve)
Zidansek tries her luck at the net with a serve-volley which pays off, before Serena pushes a backhand wide for 30-0. It's the first time the Russian has picked up two points in a game. She swiftly makes it a third when she lures Serena to the net and then scoops a forehand past her rival for three game points. She clenches her fist, looking to the corner for further support. It's a love game.
Williams 2-0 Zidansek* (*denotes next to serve)
Serena backs up a fantastic cross-court winner with a powerful overhead to keep Zidansek quiet. Serena is moving well and demonstrating her vast array of talents by mopping up a short return with a deft drop shot. A rash volley from Serena hands Zidansek a free point at 40-15 before Serena cements the break with a solid first serve.
Williams* 1-0 Zidansek (*denotes next to serve)
Zidansek loses a challenge on the opening point of her serve and then delivers a double fault as nerves show at the start. Serena executes a serve-volley to cut short the next point for three break points but then slaps a service return into the middle which allows Zidansek of a first point of the match.
The Russian strikes a forehand into the tramlines on the next point to hand Serena an early break. SERENA BREAKS.
Players out and warming up
Here we go then, Serena, the eighth seed here will take on Zidansek for their first time.
Brit watch
Heather Watson joins Harriet Dart as the last two remaining Brits at the Australian Open.
Watson battled her way into the second round with a straight sets win over Kristyna Pliskova, in a match which had been held over for a day due to a backed up schedule.
Dan Evans, the British No 1 men's player, meanwhile, missed out on a potential third-round meeting with Novak Djokovic after a straight sets loss to Yoshihito Nishioka.
Watson joins Dart in the second-round of the tournament, with 23-year-old Dart taking on Wimbledon champion Simona Halep under the floodlights tomorrow, 8am UK time.
Serena's quest for grand slam No 24
Morning all, welcome to coverage of Serena Williams' second-round match of the Aussie Open as she chases a record-equalling 24th major this fortnight.
The bookmakers favourite took just 58 minutes to polish off Russian's Anastasia Potapova for the loss of three games in the opening round, and today's opponent looks hard pressed to trouble the 38-year-old on Rod Laver Arena this evening (Oz time that is).
Tamara Zidansek, at 22, is making her second main draw appearance in Melbourne and reached the second round on her debut last year before losing to eventual champion Naomi Osaka.
Williams, meanwhile, headed into the opening slam of the season in high spirits following her pre-tournament title success in Auckland.
Incredibly, this is Serena's 74th grand slam main draw appearance – second on the Open Era list, behind sister Venus (85).
She is also bidding this fortnight to win her 11th major since turning 30. Margaret Court (3), Martina Navratilova (3), Chris Evert (2), Billie Jean King (2), Ann Jones (1), Angelique Kerber (1), Li Na (1), Flavia Pennetta (1) and Virginia Wade (1) are the only other women to lift major silverware in their 30s.
And the stats keep coming, as did you know Serena has only ever lost twice in the second round of a previous slam. On her debut at the Aussie Open way back in 1998 to sister Venus, and at the 2014 French Open to Garbine Muguruza. The odds are stacked against you I'm afraid Tamara.
