By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday January 22, 2020
Serena Williams moved a step closer to her 24th major title with another straight-sets win on Day 3.
Photo Source: Mark Peterson/ Corleve
Serena Williams ratcheted up the intensity and racked up another win on Day 3 in Melbourne. The seven-time Australian Open champion slid past Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek 6-2 6-3 to book a third-round clash with China’s Wang Qiang.
Williams had her hands full with the 22-year-old World No.70 and really had to scrap to claim a shaky second set that saw the American toss in 17 unforced errors and face three break points.
“I knew I had to play better,” Williams said. “I couldn’t keep making unforced errors like that. I knew that I had to kind of just step up or it was going to be a really long evening for me.”
The 38-year-old was in danger of falling behind by a break in the sixth game of the second set but saved three break points to hold for 3-3 and proceeded to win 12 of the final 15 points to clinch her victory in one hour and 18 minutes.
“It was a good match for me,” Williams told Jim Courier on court after the match. “She was a real good fighter.” Williams’ triumph marked an 87th career Australian Open victory, which is most all-time.
Williams also remains undefeated on the season at 6-0. After starting the season with her 73rd career title at Auckland she has dropped just eight games through two rounds in Melbourne.