Australian 17-year-old Ashleigh Barty faces a daunting task when she matches up against world number one Serena Williams on Rod Laver Arena tonight. Join us for live scores and commentary from 9.00pm AEDT.
Williams has a wealth of grand slam experience and has been dominant at the top of the women’s tennis pecking order, putting Barty at long odds to upset the five-time Australian open champion.
The hard hitting Williams has continued her good form in 2014 taking out the Brisbane International without dropping a single set and with wins over two of the top four players, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka.
The American is a likely to come out with all guns blazing against the Aussie teen to build momentum and bolster her chances of winning an 18th grand slam.
Barty is a newcomer on the WTA singles tour and will need to muster up all the courage she has to counter the dominant attack of the top seed.
Despite being 125 in the world the young talent was crowned junior Wimbledon champion last year and reached three of the four major doubles finals with her partner, Casey Dellacqua.
Barty will be relishing the chance to compete against one of the games greats and her Round 1 match will give her an opportunity to figure out what it takes to make it to the top.
The young Australian will have the whole crowd by her side but it’s hard to go past the class and power of Williams on this one.
Williams in straight sets.
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
A good effort from Barty the young Australian but the masterclass of Williams overwhelmed the teen and gave her a taste of what it's like to compete against an opponent with 17 Grand Slams to her name. It was clear from the start that Barty's serve and return was no match for the well oiled Williams machine who showed little mercy as she took her opponents game apart and exposed all of her flaws. The World Number 1. is hungrier than ever for another Grand Slam and Barty is just the first player she will take down in this years Australian Open. Serena Williams advances to Round 2.
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
GAME, SET, MATCH - SERENA WILLIAMS 6-2 6-1
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
She saves one but Williams is back on strike 40-ad. Barty 2 1 Williams 6 5
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Williams is in cruise control now with Barty going for too much on her forehand to bring up a match point for Serena. Barty 2 1 Williams 6 5
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Serena is showing her poise at the net and is looking at good odds to equal Martina Navratilova Grand Slam record of 18. She is up 5-1 now in the second having only lost one point on serve this match. Barty 2 1 Williams 6 5
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Barty showing her ability to cover the whole court and is up 40-0 after some promising play from the back but Williams responds as always with another crosscourt winner to make it 40-15. Barty holds and breaths a sigh of relief. Barty 2 1 Williams 6 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Williams is in redhot form, combining some powerful strokes with some brilliant touch at the net, up 30-0 on serve. Make that 40-0 and now the game with the Barty lucky to make it past three shots at the moment. Barty 2 0 Williams 6 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Williams leads by a set and 3-0 with Barty's Australian Open hopes over before she even got a chance to warm up. She is struggling to cope with the William's serve and can't seem to find any range on her own. Barty 2 0 Williams 6 3
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Another simple hold for Williams to make it 2-0 in the second. Williams with a brilliant drop shot to bring up another succession of break points, 0-40. Barty 2 0 Williams 6 2
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Williams showing why she is Number 1. breaking the young Aussie and is up 40-0. A lesson in first serve percentage from Serena here. Barty 2 0 Williams 6 1
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Barty is doing her best to weather the Williams storm and is quick to get back out there but there is no stopping the American at this stage as she takes a 40-0 lead in the opening game of the second set. Barty 2 0 Williams 6 0
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
FIRST SET WILLIAMS - after just 31 minutes of play. Barty 2 Williams 6
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Williams showing no mercy here as she continues to catapult her first and second serve which warrants no reply from Barty 40-15 - two set points. Barty 2 Williams 5
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Another double fault from Barty and some solid groundstrokes from Williams to break the young Australian's serve. Barty 2 Williams 5
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Williams holds and Barty is back on serve with a double fault on the first point followed by another Williams forehand winner, 30-0. Barty 2 Williams 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Barty showing her skills stepping up on the Williams serve and planting a backhand down the line. Williams replies in true style though with a 192 km serve out wide followed by an athletic overhead on the next point to make it 40-15. Barty 2 Williams 3
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Barty's second serve is being crunched at the moment but she has got Williams memo and replies with a good first serve to bring up game point, ad-40. Williams produces an uncharacteristic forehand return error to gift Barty the game. Barty 2 Williams 3
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Serena sends Barty a strong message that her serve needs some more juice with a mean forehand down the line followed by big crosscourt backhand to level it up at 30-30. Barty 1 Williams 3
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
A double fault and unforced error for Williams 40-30, but she composes with a big serve down the tee for the game. Barty 1 Williams 3
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Williams is yet to loose a point on serve, up 40-0. The service return is going to need to improve from Barty. Barty 1 Williams 2