Australian Open 2019: Johanna Konta beaten by Garbine Muguruza in early hours - Naomi Osaka digs deep & serene for Serena Williams

By Sporting Life

19:36 · THU January 17, 2019

Johanna Konta was beaten by Garbine Muguruza in the early hours of the morning in Melbourne, after Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams had advanced to the third round of the Australian Open.

The final British interest in the Australian Open singles went out in the early hours of the morning in Melbourne as Johanna Konta lost against two-time grand slam champion Garbine Muguruza.

Konta hit the first serve of the contest at 12.30am, and was broken in the opening service game by the two-time Grand Slam champion in front of a sparse crowd who had remained to watch in the early hours.

making it the latest start to a match at Melbourne Park and almost certainly in grand slam history. By the time Muguruza struck the winning shot to claim a 6-4 6-7 (3) 7-5 victory, it was 3.12am.

That was still nowhere near the latest finish ever, which came in 2008 when Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis played a five-set match that finished at 4.33am.

Although Konta did not come out on top of this one, this was a performance from the British number one that harked back to her form of two years ago, when she appeared a legitimate grand slam challenger, and should give her plenty of confidence for the season ahead.

WHAT. A. MATCH!

Well over two-and-a-half hours but @GarbiMuguruza finally beats @JohannaKonta

The match finishes at 3:12 AM in Melbourne. Incredible!#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/E40MMCUeze
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 17, 2019

Serena Williams eased her way into round three of the Australian Open with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Eugenie Bouchard.

Bouchard is climbing back up the rankings after tumbling almost out of the top 200 last year, and this was not entirely straightforward for Williams, who made more unforced errors than she would have liked.

But there was also some devastating play from the 23-time grand slam singles champion, especially on the Bouchard serve.

Ever wondered where @serenawilliams keeps ALL her trophies - especially the one that @Venuseswilliams gave to her at eight years of age? 🤔#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/5ncbSbnDNo
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2019

The Canadian did not help herself with two double faults to give away the opening game and another in the third.

She broke the Williams serve twice to at least get a foothold in the match but was unable to hold her own serve until the start of the second set.

Leading 2-1 and at 0-30 on the Williams serve, Bouchard briefly looked like she might threaten, but she did not win another game.

Standing next in Williams' way is 18-year-old Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, who knocked out 23rd seed Carla Suarez Navarro.

Osaka put through her paces

US Open champion Naomi Osaka was made to work in the second set before coming through 6-2 6-4 against Tamara Zidansek in the second round of the Australian Open.

The fourth seed was a break down at 4-2 against 21-year-old Slovenian Zidansek but recovered with a run of four games in a row, saving two break points in the final game.

Osaka next faces the tricky Hsieh Su-wei, who is again having a good run a year after defeating Garbine Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska to reach the fourth round.

Naomi Osaka

Halep overcomes major scare

World number one Simona Halep survived a major battle for the second consecutive round.

After seeing off Kaia Kanepi in round one, Halep found herself up against 20-year-old American Sofia Kenin, who won her maiden WTA Tour title in Hobart last week.

Having trailed by a set and 3-0, Kenin turned things around, winning the second and opening up a 4-2 lead in the third, but Halep fought back to win the final four games and the match 6-3 6-7 (5) 6-4.

Speaking on court, the world number one said: "I have no idea how I won tonight."

It does not get any easier for the Romanian, who next faces Venus Williams. The American also came through a three-setter, defeating France's Alize Cornet 6-3 4-6 6-0.

Where there's a will, there's a way ❤️#ausopen pic.twitter.com/rlSbSz5FPc
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) January 17, 2019

Svitolina: I'm here for tennis

Elina Svitolina was in her comfort zone in moving through to the third round - but less so when her relationship with fellow player Gael Monfils was made public.

Monfils was spotted in Svitolina's player box during her 6-4 6-1 victory over Viktoria Kuzmova in the second round, leading to an awkward moment when she was asked about it during her on-court interview.

"I didn't really expect to be asked that because I just finished my match," said the sixth-seeded Ukrainian. "We are here for tennis so that's why it was a bit strange."

Svitolina, who previously dated England cricketer Reece Topley, added of the relationship: "He's there for me, he's supporting me, and I'm there for him as well. He understands, I understand, what we're going through. It's great."

For all the talk of the unpredictability of the women's game, the story of the tournament so far has been the top players dominating, and it was the same on Thursday.

Suarez Navarro was the only seed to fall, with the likes of Karolina Pliskova, Madison Keys and Elise Mertens all moving through to the last 32.