Serena Williams moves on in Aussie Open
January 21, 2017
Serena Williams needed only 63 minutes to take care of Nicole Gibbs in the third round on Saturday, winning 6-1, 6-3 at the Rod Laver Arena. The second-seeded Williams did not face a break point until she was serving for the match.
It is the sixth straight fourth round appearance for Williams since not playing in 2011 due to an injury. Williams has won the event six times in her career and is looking for a record 23rd Grand Slam singles title. Williams is to face Barbora Strycova in the round of 16.
The tallest man in tennis, Ivo Karlovic, could not find his way into the fourth round of play in Melbourne, bowing out in straight sets against 11th seed Belgian David Goffin, 6-3 6-2 6-4 in less than 90 minutes of play.
Standing at 2.11 meters (6 feet 11 inches), the 20th seeded Croat managed 25 aces in the match, and averaged 199 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour) on his serve. But Karlovic was forced into 28 unforced errors and got a break point. Goffin will face eighth-seeded Dominic Thiem in the next round.
Further play Saturday
After Saturday's matches, the round of 16 will be set.
Alexander Zverev of Germany lost to Rafael Nadal.
France's Gael Monfils beat Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in three sets.
kbd/rc/jm (AFP, AP)