Serena Williams is the favourite to win the Australian Open When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments Williams is attempting to equal Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam record of 24 with success at the Australian Open over the next week. She takes on Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in the second round this morning. Ahead of the showdown, Federer has recalled his first, and probably final, clash against the American at the Hopman Cup easier this month, in which Switzerland won the mixed doubles rubber. However, Federer struggled with his serving against Williams and he has explained exactly what the problem was.<doc-sep>PERTH, Australia — After nearly two decades of appearing alongside each other on billboards and in record books, Serena Williams and Roger Federer faced off across a tennis court for the first time on Tuesday. The incandescent stars, now both 37, finally aligned for the first time by taking part in a mixed doubles match between the United States and Switzerland at the Hopman Cup team event. On the opening point, Williams pulled Federer wide to his forehand side with a sharply angled volley, then sent a smash toward the opposite corner that he could not reach in time to send back. Long exchanges between the two proved few, however, with each using their serve to effectively neutralize the other. It did not seem to matter to the crowd of 14,064 in Perth Arena, the highest single-session attendance in the event’s 31-year history, and Williams and Federer clearly delighted in the chance to hit the ball around with each other a couple of weeks before more serious play occurs at the Australian Open.<doc-sep>Roger Federer and Serena Williams. (Getty Images) MUMBAI: Right through his stellar career, Roger Federer has never been one to court controversy. At the end of last season, however, the Swiss great unwittingly found himself at the centre of one when French player Julien Benneteau had some strong things to say about the preferential treatment Federer tends to enjoy at the biggest tennis events in the world. In an interview with French radio station RMC, Benneteau drew attention to the business link between the 20-time Grand Slam winner and Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley regarding the Laver Cup, a Ryder Cup inspired team event that was launched by Federer’s management company Team8. This, Benneteau, felt had played a key role in Federer, the two-time defending Australian Open champion, playing 12 of his 14 matches in the last two editions of the year’s opening Grand Slam at night when mercury levels are kinder. Did the former French Open doubles champion have a valid point about Federer being the beneficiary of favourable scheduling? There was no doubt in the minds of ESPN commentators Patrick McEnroe and Chris Evert , who, while calling for some sort of balance, also pointed out that players like Federer and Serena Williams were simply reaping the rewards for their immense contribution to the game. “Is there favouritism for the top players at majors when it comes to court assignments and schedule? Absolutely, there is, okay!” McEnroe said in a conference call ahead of the 2019 Australian Open. “Does it need to be held in check at times, called out a little bit? Of course. We’ve done that plenty of times at ESPN when it comes to why is Venus Williams on Court 2 at Wimbledon, for example. “The fact of the matter is that the players who get the better scheduling or the better courts, et cetera, basically deserve it. At the end of the day, the people running the events are looking at filling the seats and keeping the sponsors happy. That’s part of the game and part of the deal.” Evert, a tennis legend herself, agreed. “Is there a little bit of favouritism towards them? Yes. But they’ve earned it. It’s all about earning it,” said the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion. “This isn't all about tennis matches, it's also about entertainment. At the same time, the tournament directors do have to be sensitive, especially when it’s a major tournament, to make sure everybody has the best schedule that they can have.” As Williams looks to equal Australian great Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, Evert dismissed the suggestion that her American compatriot’s legacy had been tarnished by the unsavoury episode at last September’s US Open final. “The fact she dominated for so long, she could break the record of Grand Slams — that will overshadow everything at the end of the day,” said the former World No. 1.<doc-sep>The Australian Open begins on Monday, and Thursday gave us the draw, which means we now know who's playing who. One of the first things that jumps off the bracket is that Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic could play each other in the finals. Both of them have six Australian Open titles, tied with Roy Emerson for the most ever, so they could be playing for the most ever if they get through their respective brackets. To view the full draw and bracket for the Australian Open, click here. One the women's side, Serena Williams is trying to win her 24th Grand Slam, which would tie her with Margaret Court for the most ever. Williams has made the last two women's singles finals, losing to Angelique Kerber at Wimbledon and Naomi Osaka in the US Open. Williams, 37, is in the same bracket as WTA No. 1 Simona Halep, so it'll be a long road for her. Venus Williams could play Halep as early as the third round, whereas Serena would have her in the fourth if the bracket goes chalk. Osaka is the No. 4 seed, and her side of the bracket is shared with Anastasija Sevastova. Osaka broke out at last year's Open with an incredible run that ultimately ended in her defeat of Williams. At just 21, Osaka is coming off a tough loss at Brisbane to Lesia Tsurenko, but her attitude after the match shows that she's refocusing. "If I'm being really frank, I just feel like I had like the worst attitude today," she said after that match, per Tennis World USA. "I feel like I didn't really know how to cope with not playing well. So, I don't know, like I was sulking a little bit, and like there are moments that I tried not to do that. But then the ball wouldn't go in, and then I would go back to being like childish and stuff." Caroline Wozniacki is looking to defend her title, but a second-round loss to Tsurenko at the US Open, Ekaterina Makarova at Wimbledon and a fourth-round loss to Daria Kasatkina are still looming. Last year she won her first career Grand Slam in Melbourne, now she wants to expand her portfolio. Rafael Nadal, the No. 2 seed, is sharing a bracket with Kyle Edmund, who's looking to return to form after a brutal Brisbane International loss to Yasutaka Uchiyama. A potential semifinal match with Federer looms if he's able to power through, but his quarterfinal section would include Kevin Anderson and John Isner. An Anderson-Isner rematch, of course, would evoke memories of last year's Wimbledon when the two played a marathon against each other. Should things go chalk, Federer's quarterfinal matchup would be Marin Cilic, but in Cilic's section Karen Khachanov is looking to play spoiler. Kei Nishikori and Djokovic could play in the quarterfinals after Djokovic swept Nishikori in the semifinals of the US Open. Djokovic has won the last two men's majors, and he's looking for No. 3. Andy Murray has a relatively favorable draw himself, ending up in Cilic and Khachanov's bracket, but he'll need to prove he's back on Djokovic, Federer and Nadal's level. Several records could fall in this year's Open, but it's a new year. The new guard is still creeping, and they do not want Federer, Nadal and Djokovic to win every major against this year. On the women's side, Williams is trying to break records herself, but she's facing a talented field.<doc-sep>
Serena Williams and Roger Federer each made it through the first round of the Australian Open on Monday, extending their winning streaks at Melbourne Park. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Once again, Serena Williams is off to a hot start at the Australian Open. The 23-time major winner flew past Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-0, 6-2 in just 49 minutes. Maria struggled serving on Monday, making only 3-of-14 first serves in the opening set and had seven double faults in the match. Williams, who won the Australian Open in 2017, didn’t defend her title last year, instead taking time off after the birth of her daughter. Monday was also the first time Williams played an official match since her controversy-filled U.S. Open final in September. Williams, the No. 16 seed, will take on Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard in the second round of the tournament. Bouchard beat China’s Shaui Peng 6-2, 6-1 on Monday. Roger Federer cruised through opening round Defending champion Roger Federer rolled through his opening round match at the Australian Open on Monday, too, beating Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The win marked Federer’s 15th consecutive match win at Melbourne Park, his longest streak since he hit 19 in a row from 2006-2008. “I’m very happy with my first round, to be honest,” Federer said, via Michael Beattie. “It’s been great. Felt the ball really good. “I protected my serve well, didn’t allow Denis really to get into my service games very often. I was always in the lead, as well. Obviously that helps. I can free swing maybe a little bit more. At the same time I think I have to do some defense, some offense. It was a bit of everything.” Federer, the No. 3 seed, will take on the United Kingdom’s Daniel Evans in the second round on Wednesday. More from Yahoo Sports: • Patriots’ Brady: ‘I know everybody thinks we suck’ • Is the end finally near for Gronkowski? • Haynes: Bulls uninterested in buying out Lopez • Martin: No happy ending this time for Jeffery, Eagles