Serena Williams safely through on day of shocks in Melbourne, beating Lucie Safarova

ByTom Adams

Updated 19/01/2017 at 14:48 GMT

Second seed Serena Williams made it safely through to the third round of the Australian Open, beating Lucie Safarova 6-3 6-4 on a day when other big names fell.

Men’s number two Novak Djokovic was beaten by Denis Istomin before women’s number three seed Agnieszka Radwanska fell to Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

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But Williams, going in search of her 23rd Grand Slam title, eased past the world number 61 in two sets on Rod Laver Arena.

She fired in 35 winners in a comprehensive win which underlines her claims to take the title back from reigning champion Angelique Kerber.

“That was pretty good, hopefully I can keep going,” Williams said.

“Everyone works hard in the off-season. I wanted to work on my movement and I feel I am dangerous when I move… it’s one of my strengths.”

Serena, a six-time champion in Melbourne, faces compatriot Nicole Gibbs in the third round.

Williams was still in a combative mode when she headed to her news conference and upbraided a reporter for describing her performance as "scrappy".

"I think that's a very negative thing to say. Are you serious?" she snapped. "Well, you should have been out there. That wasn't very kind. You should apologise."

Williams extended her perfect record to 10 successive wins over Safarova and shut down all six break point chances the Czech held over her.

Under pressure on serve when trailing 3-2 in the second set, Williams saved the sixth break point with a thumping second serve ace that flew down the 'T'.

Highlights: Serena makes light work of Safarova

She then pounced on Safarova's serve in the following game, roaring "Come on!" after the Czech conceded a break point with an errant backhand before crumbling with a double-fault.

Williams blew two match points in an uncharacteristic lapse but closed it out on the third with a searing forehand down the line that Safarova did well to get a racket to.

Bidding for a seventh title at Melbourne Park and the long-awaited 23rd grand slam trophy to surpass German great Steffi Graf, Williams reminded her rivals that there is only one Serena.

"I know that being Serena on the court is in a way being calm, which is in my name, but always having that fire as well," she said.

"I think, most of all, being confident. I should be confident because there's no other Serena. I mean, I'm Serena. Maybe there is another one, but she's not in tennis."

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