Murray not kind to Aussie hosts
He records his 17th consecutive win against Australians. Isner, Keys advance.
MELBOURNE, Australia — Andy Murray maintained his perfect record against Australian opponents when he defeated Sam Groth, 6- 0, 6- 4, 6- 1, Thursday, his 17th consecutive win against players from Down Under.
He also kept up his nearly perfect record of beating players at their home Grand Slam, moving to 13- 1 — his only loss to a player in their home major was to Gael Monfils at the 2006 French Open.
The four- time Australian Open finalist advanced to the third round for the eighth time. He won the 2012 U.S. Open and 2013 Wimbledon.
2008 finalist Ana Ivanovic finalist defeated qualifier Anastasija Sevastova, 6- 3, 6- 3, after the match was interrupted when a fan needed medical aid.
“First I felt really bad. I was really shaking, because the sound of the lady falling was really loud,” she said. “I stopped immediately.”
Ivanovic said she feared the worst for the spectator, “So I just hope the lady was fine.”
“It was actually good that we had to wait a little bit because I was really shaking, because I could imagine and it was not so nice. I hope she’s well.”
Tournament organizers said the spectator was treated in the stadium before being taken by stretcher for observation and more treatment.
Players regularly have breaks for rain and other reasons, so Ivanovic said she didn’t let the distraction put her off her game.
With No. 2- ranked Simon Halep and No. 7 Venus Williams already out, No. 20 Ivanovic is the most experienced player in her quarter.
Third- seeded Garbine Muguruza is in the same half of the draw, and the 2015 Wimbledon finalist moved into the third round for the third straight year at Melbourne Park with a 6- 4, 6- 2 win over Kirsten Flipkens. Muguruza will next play Barbora Strycova, who beat Vania King, 7- 6 ( 5), 6- 4. No. 15 Madison Keys lost the f irst set to Yaroslava Shvedova, then rallied for a 6- 7 ( 4), 6- 3, 6- 3 win.
Two- time champion Victoria Azarenka returned from an injury layoff to win the Brisbane International title leading into the Australian Open and continued her winning run with a 6- 1, 6- 2 victory over Danka Kovinic. Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka beat No. 18 Elina Svitolina, 6- 4, 6- 4.
On the men’s side, No. 10seeded John Isner f ired 20 aces and 53 winners in a 6- 3, 7- 6 ( 5), 7- 6 ( 2) win over Marcel Granollers, No. 23 Gael Monfils beat fellow Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, 7- 5, 6- 4, 6- 1, and No. 32 Joao Sousa beat Santiago Giraldo, 6- 3, 7- 5, 3- 6 6- 1.