Eugenie Bouchard and Serena Williams to clash in the second round
A semi-finalist at the Australian Open five years ago, Canadian Eugenie Bouchard has set up a captivating second-round clash against superstar Serena Williams.
The 24-year-old, now ranked No.79 in the world, was clinical in defeating Chinese wildcard Shuai Peng 6-2, 6-1.
Earlier at Melbourne Park, the first woman in the top half of the draw won through to the next stage when Czech Karolina Pliskova enjoyed a regulation win over qualifier Karolina Muchova.
It was an all-Czech Republic affair but seventh seed Pliskova was barely troubled in winning 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and nine minutes.
Pliskova, one of the players to watch in the top half along with Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys and Williams, will next meet the winner of the match between American Madison Brengle and Japanese qualifier Misaki Doi.
Pliskova has reached the quarter-finals of the past two Australian Opens and was a finalist at the US Open three years ago.
Others to win through on Tuesday included Keys and Belgian 12th seed Elise Mertens, who beat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia in straight sets.
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