AUSTRALIAN OPEN: DAY TWO
FALLEN SEEDS
The seeded players did much better on day two than on day one. Although some were pushed to the limits they fought their way to victory. Only two seeded players lost: [17] Marco Cecchinato (ITA) lost to [92] Filip Krajinovic (SRB) 6-4, 6-0, 1-6, 6-7(8), 4-6 and [25] Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) lost to [37] Venus Williams (USA) 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 2-6. Venus came very close to losing in straight sets, Buzarnescu served for the match.
AMERICAN MEN DID NOT FARE WELL
[48] Sam Querrey lost in four sets to [53] Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA).
[76] Bradley Klahn after winning the first two sets, lost in five sets to [25] Hyeon Chung (KOR).
[105] Jack Sock continues to struggle to find his way on the singles court; he lost in four sets to [159] Alex Bolt (AUS).
[135] Bjorn Fratangelo lost in straight sets to [29] Gilles Simon (FRA).
[231] Mitchell Krueger lost in straight sets to [1] Novak Djokovic (SRB).
AMERICAN WOMEN FARED MUCH BETTER
[16] Serena Williams defeated [71] Tatjana Maria (GER): 6-0, 6-2
[17] Madison Keys defeated [193] Destanee Aiava (AUS): 6-2, 6-2
[56] Sofia Kenin defeated [111] Veronika Kudermetova (RUS): 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
[89] Madison Brengle defeated [133] Misaki Doi (JPN): 6-4, 6-0
THE LONE MALE WINNER: [81] Ryan Harrison defeated [87] Jiri Vesely (CZE) in straight sets.
TWO AMERICAN WOMEN LOST TODAY
[134] Varvara Lepchenko lost in three sets to [135] Natalia Vikhlyantseva (RUS): 7-6(2), 2-6, 4-6.
[199] Whitney Osuigwe lost in three sets to [107] Bianca Andreescu (CAN): 6-7(1), 7-6(0), 3-6.
SPECIAL MENTION
The number one women’s seed Simona Halep got a little revenge; however, it was a battle against [70] Kaia Kanepi (EST). Kanepi took the first set in a tiebreak but then Halep came charging back to win the last two sets 6-4, 6-2.
Meanwhile, [4] Alexander Zverev (GER) got off to a winning start in his bid to win his first major; he defeated [67] Aljaz Bedene (SLO) 6-4, 6-1, 6-4.
SOURCE OF IMAGES: Zimbio.com (Paul R. Kane/Getty Images AsiaPac: Serena Williams) and all others are serveandrally originals.
