Serena left 'broken heart' as his opponent crumbled in tears

Melbourne – Serena Williams participated in the Australian Open last Saturday and warned that it was still improving after taking the time to console the last victim of his quest for a record 24th major.

Williams escaped Ukrainian teen Dayana Yastremska 6-2, 6-1 in a win at Melbourne Park that reduced the number of players around the world to 57.

The 37-year-old woman, looking for her first Grand Slam since giving birth, comforted the girl at the net by saying, "You've been great, you'll get there, do not cry."

But Williams, who is in a worrying form and has dropped just nine games in three games, also sent a message to rivals, saying it was not at its peak.

"I think I'm coming in. I do not feel like I'm coming yet," she said. "I feel like I'm still there."

Williams will face either sister Venus, who was not seeded this year, or world number one, Simona Halep, in the next round.

The 37-year-old woman won her 23rd Grand Slam Down Under two years ago while she was two months pregnant. She is the bookies' favorite to win an eighth Australian title, although she is ranked 16th.

Another major player would equal Margaret Court's score and Williams will focus on his quest for the big Australian record.

"I'm here, I play as hard as I can and I do my best, which is really all I can do," she said.

Yastremska was not even born when the American won her first major at Flushing Meadows in 1999.

Williams said that she did not like to see such an anguished opponent, but she understood that Yastremska was so keen to try to win her match and "came out in force".

"I liked that a bit – it shows that she was not there to play a good game, she was there to win," said the American.

"She wanted to win, it really broke my heart."

Her compbadion contrasted with Maria Sharapova's attitude when she left Harriet Dart in tears after serving the 6-0 British and 6-0 "double bagel" in the first round.

"I'm sorry I do not have the time," said the Russian when asked if she had any sympathy for her opponent.

The only previous appearance of Yastremska at a Grand Slam was a first round exit at the US Open last year. It looked like a roadkill as soon as Williams took a 4-0 lead in the first set.

The Ukrainian managed to serve twice in the first set, eliciting loud applause from the public, but was unable to prevent Williams from taking the first set 6-2 after 27 minutes.

Williams was also relentless in the second, breaking Yastremska and allowing the teenager to score just four points from her serve as she progressed 4-1.

Yastremska was treated with the right foot but that only delayed the inevitable and Williams only took a few minutes to bring back the match ball after the restart of the game.

She managed her first chance at the net but completed the win after Yastremska sent a wide return.