In pics: Highlights of Day 4 of the Australian Open
Wawrinka stumbles, Serena cruises, and other news from Day 4 of the year's first Grand Slam.
Serena cruises past Bouchard
Serena Williams, chasing a record 24th Grand Slam title, struck 20 winners and converted six break points to beat Canadian Eugenie Bouchard 6-2, 6-2.
The American, who recorded her 83rd match win at Melbourne Park, will face Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska in the third round.
(Photograph:Reuters)
Top seed Halep fends off American Kenin
World number one Simona Halep survived an almighty scare against Sofia Kenin before she overcame the unseeded American 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4 to reach the third round.
After blasting her way through the first set and racing to a 3-0 lead in the next, 2018 runner-up Halep appeared to step off the gas as she allowed the determined Kenin to level at 3-3 and eventually drag the contest into a decider.
Halep battled hard in the third set and regained control with a decisive break in the ninth game before closing out the match on her second match point in two hours and 31 minutes.
(Photograph:Reuters)
Venus Williams through to next round
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams made a late charge into the Australian Open third round, grinding out a win in her second three-set victory of the tournament.
The unseeded 38-year-old American came back strongly to beat Alize Cornet of France 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, setting up a meeting with top seed Simona Halep.
(Photograph:AFP)
Nishikori made to work hard for win over Karlovic
Kei Nishikori was dragged into a five-setter for the second match in a row but the eighth seed dug deep to beat Croatian veteran Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 7-6(6), 5-7, 5-7, 7-6(7).
The Japanese looked in control after taking a two-set lead but the 39-year-old Karlovic did not back down and levelled the contest.
Nishikori held his nerve in a tight decider to prevail in three hours and 48 minutes.
(Photograph:Reuters)
