Radwanska wins in straight sets

Agnieszka Radwanska shales hands with Olga Govortsova after winning her second round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Photo: EPA/Made Nagi

The world No. 5 wrapped up the first set in just 24 minutes, with Govortsova (WTA ranking No 98), not managing to take a single game in the searing heat.

The second set was more balanced, but Radwanska ultimately managed to push ahead without having to go to a tie break.

“I'm really glad that I got back in the game in the second half, which meant that I could finish the match faster than the last one,” Radwanska said, recalling her tough first round clash against Yulia Putintseva, which lasted 142 minutes.

“Now it's time for a rest, because that's what athletes most need after pushing themselves.”

Radwanska will now face Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (WTA ranking No. 30) in the third round of the Grand Slam tournament. Pavlyuchenkova won an authoritative second round victory over Luxembourg's Mandy Minella 6-2, 6-2.

Heatwave

Meanwhile, tournament organisers have been halting numerous matches owing to extreme weather.

First, it was declared that matches would not continue until after 5 pm local time.Later, a storm struck, stopping Pole Michal Przysiezny's second round match against Frenchman Stephane Robert.

Temperatures have reached as high as 43 degrees Celsius this week.

Belarusian Victoria Azaranka commented that playing in Melbourne was like “dancing in a frying pan.”

Canadian Frank Dancevic fainted in his match against Benoit Paire.

“It's hazardous to play out there – it's dangerous,” he said.

Source: IAR, BBC, CNN