Serena Williams’ bid for a seventh Australian Open crown remains right on track after beating Belinda Bencic in the first round on Tuesday. The American superstar needed just 79 minutes to record the emphatic 6-4, 6-3 win. Williams, who improved to 2-1 against Bencic, recorded 30 winners and won 76 percent of her first serve points in that match. What proved to be the difference in the contest, though, was her exquisite return. Williams won 46 percent of her receiving points against Bencic with the World No. 2 converting four of her eight break point opportunities.
Next up for Serena is a round-of-64 clash with Lucie Safarova. The 35-year-old will fancy her chances against Safarova as she has won each of her nine previous meetings with the Czech star. For Williams to extend her dominance against Safarova, she needs to bring her aggressive style and continue her strong net play in the second round. She won 88 percent of her net points against Bencic in the first round. Williams also hit a whopping 30 winners in that encounter.
Lucie Safarova booked a spot in the second round of the Australian Open with a thrilling 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-1 victory over Yanina Wickmayer on Tuesday. This is the sixth time in her career that Safarova has reached the round of 64 here in Melbourne. Things are bound to get tougher, though, for the 29-year-old as she will next face the six-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams. Their last meeting came in the French Open final last year, with Safarova losing in three sets.
For Safarova to grab the massive upset this time around, she will need to step up her play on the receiving end. She won 40 percent of her receiving points against Wickmayer with Safarova converting three of her five break point chances. Safarova will also take heart in the fact that she hit the ball beautifully from the baseline in that match. She blasted 41 winners in that first-round win against Wickmayer. That being said, Safarova will need to find ways to limit her miscues against Williams. She committed a whopping 35 unforced errors in the win against Wickmayer.
Safarova is 4-6 in her last 10 matches.
Writer’s Prediction
Williams (-750) destroys Safarova in straight sets.
