Two-time Grand Slam winner Garbine Muguruza emerged triumphant in the latest women's match ever held at the Australian Open after defeating Briton Johanna Konta.
Muguruza and Konta's match on Margaret Court Arena did not start until 12:30am on Friday morning—a record at the season-opening Grand Slam—and finished with a 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 7-5 victory for the Spaniard two hours and 42 minutes later at 3:12am.
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The start was delayed when the men's match between Alexander Zverev and Jeremy Chardy turned into a three-hour-46-minute epic, ending 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (6/8), 6-1 for Germany's Zverev.
The schedule is largely determined by local television demands to play high-profile matches in the evening prime time.
Top seed Novak Djokovic turned back the clock when he beat Frenchman wildcard entry Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 7-5 6-4 in the late match at Rod Laver Arena to reach the third round. Eleven years ago, the Serb had beat Tsonga for the 2008 Australian Open.
Djokovic cruised to victory in two hours and four minutes, setting up an interesting clash with Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov.
Meanwhile, sixth seed Elina Svitolina and seventh-seeded Karolina Pliskova kept their dreams of a maiden Grand Slam title alive ahead of 23-time major winner Serena Williams swinging back into Australian Open action.
Despite being ranked in the top 10, neither has progressed further than the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park.
Self-assured Svitolina dismantled Viktoria Kuzmova of Slovakia 6-4, 6-1 to make the third round, while Pliskova woke up after losing the first set to race past Madison Brengle 4-6 6-1 6-0.
Williams is in action later against Eugenie Bouchard. World number one Simona Halep, who narrowly survived a first-round scare, is also back on court against American Sofia Kenin, who won the warm-up Hobart International and is on a six-match win streak.
