Serena Williams defeats Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets to advance into Australian Open third round
- Serena Williams capitalised on Eugenie Bouchard’s errant serves in Melbourne
- The American recorded a commanding 6-2, 6-2 win in a little over an hour
- Bouchard gave Williams a harder task in the second set on the Rod Laver Arena
Serena Williams was in uncompromising form as she swept away the improving Eugenie Bouchard to make the third round of the Australian Open.
While seeded No 16, Williams showed that she is a far more serious threat than that by beating the Canadian 6-2 6 in just one hour and ten minutes after a delayed start to their third round caused by a backlog of matches.
Williams, who again warmed up in her overcoat-like jacket despite the sultry temperatures, had her serve broken twice by Bouchard but her returning was so penetrating that it made little difference, and she wiped those out with six break of serve.
Serena Williams beat Eugenie Bouchard to reach round three of the Australian Open
Bouchard produced a respectable display against Williams but her serving let her down
In her on-court interview, Williams said: “It wasn’t an easy match tonight, Genie has been to the finals of Wimbledon and the semi-finals of other grand slams. I knew, ‘”ll right Serena, you’ve got to come out hot, got to come out firing”.’
The veteran American now meets eighteen year-old Ukrainian Dayan Yastremska, less than half her age.
She remains on course to face either top seed Simona Halep or her sister Venus in the fourth round.
Halep earlier had to come form 2-4 down in the final set to beat American Sofia Kenin in three sets.
Williams broke Bouchard twice in the second set before seeing out the encounter