Serena Williams is safely through to the second round of the Australian Open after she eased past 17-year-old Ashleigh Barty.
The Australian teenager stunned her home crowd by reaching the final of the doubles 12 months ago, but despite a spirited display, she was no match for the world number one.
Williams produced a near-perfect performance on serve, and she coasted to a 6-2 6-1 victory inside of an hour.
Read below to see how the action unfolded on the Rod Laver Arena.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Australian Open first round encounter between Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty.
With Novak Djokovic coming through his opening match in straight sets, our attention now turns to the women's world number one Serena Williams, who is looking to win her fifth title in Australia. The American's opponent today is 17-year-old Australian Ashleigh Barty.
As you can imagine, Williams goes into this encounter as the overwhelming favourite, but this isn't expected to be a complete walkover. The American's power will likely be the key factor, but Williams has spoken in the buildup about Barty having the tools to develop into a top player.
Williams warmed up for this tournament with an impressive victory in Brisbane, while Barty came through qualifying to reach the last 16 in the same tournament. Both players are in good form at the start of the year, so it will be interesting to see who starts this match as the aggressor.
We are underway on the Rod Laver Arena. It's Barty to serve first.
Barty receives a big cheer from her home supporters after taking the opening point, and she moves 30-15 ahead when the American loops a return wide. A powerful forehand from the baseline takes Barty to two game points, but she misses an opportunity when volleying the ball into the net. A double fault takes the score to deuce, but Williams can't bring up break point after failing to take advantage of a weak second serve. It's a topsy-turvy first game, and Barty saves a break point before a huge serve into the body of Williams to bring up her fourth game point, which she takes with an ace! Great start!
Williams begins with an ace of her own, before a cross-court forehand finds the line. A massive serve down the middle is too hot to handle for the teenager, before Williams converts a volley into the open court for a love-service hold. Barty is struggling a little with her footing at the moment.
BREAK! Barty takes the first point, but after conceding that lead with a double fault, Williams drills a forehand down the line for 15-30. That soon becomes 15-40 when Barty hooks a backhand wide of the mark, and Williams seals the first break of the match with a well-timed drop-volley at the net.
Williams has quickly stamped her authority all over this match. Barty looks rushed by the power of the world number one, and Williams is 40-0 up in next to no time. That's much better from the 17-year-old, though, who goes toe-to-toe with Serena before drawing the mistake at the net, and Williams shows a bit of weakness in throwing in a double fault. However, a first serve finds the mark, and the break of serve is consolidated.
Barty puts Serena under a bit of pressure from the back of the court, and the American goes long to concede 30-0, but she responds with a booming forehand down the line. She follows that with a huge backhand return, but she then goes long to give Barty a game point. However, Williams is all over Barty's second serve, and another return winner brings up deuce. The Australian hangs in there though, and two mistakes from Williams keep her in the set.
That's superb from Barty, who steps in to record a return winner, but Williams is unfazed, and she puts away a smash to take a 30-15 lead. She brings up two game points with a big first serve, and a fine one-two is completed with a forehand winner down the line.
BREAK! Barty starts her fourth service game of the match with her third double fault, and Williams takes advantage by dominating the next point for 0-30. The American makes two unforced errors to level things up, but another double fault gives the world number one a chance for the double break, which she takes when Barty tamely slices the ball into the net.
SET! Williams wastes no time in easing ahead in the game, firing down an ace for 30-0, but a second double fault reduces Barty's deficit. However, in trademark fashion, a blistering ace brings up two set points, but an inspired cross-court backhand from Barty keeps her in the set. It's not for long, though, and another huge serve helps Williams take the set.
BREAK! It was imperative that Barty got off to a positive start in this second set, but another winner helps Serena to three break points. However, Barty shows plenty of fight to take the next two points, the second of which was a forehand winner down the line, but she hits the tape with an attempted backhand winner and she's going to be up against it from here.
What an imposing game from Williams. Three first serves, one of which reached 192kmph, take the American to three game points, and a bludgeoning smash at the net seals an easy game.
BREAK! I think that Williams is intent on finishing this one quickly. She puts Barty on the defensive with two huge shots from the baseline, before producing the most delicate of drop shots to move to three break points. The first is saved by Barty, but despite having Williams on the run in the next exchange, she goes marginally long with a lob, and that's the double break.
Routine again from Williams, who, after reaching 30-0, outlasts Barty from the back of the court, and the game is sealed with another unreturned first serve.
Barty shows that she still has the heart for the fight by getting the better of Serena in the longest rally of the match, and the world number helps Barty achieve 40-0 by miscuing a second-serve return. The next point is tentative, but Barty holds her nerve to allow the ball to go just long, and she's on the board in the second set.
Serena has won all 17 points on her first serve today, which soon becomes 18 with a serve out wide. The American then adjusts well at the net to put away a volley, and her sixth ace of the match brings up two game points. The world number one's first serve continues to be mightily impressive and another serve isn't return and she moves one game away from the second round.
MATCH! This match is pretty much done as a contest, but Barty still appears to be relishing the occasion and two neat points take her to 30-0. However, danger lurks when Williams fires back for 30-30, and a forehand that goes wide gives Williams her first match point. Barty just catches the line with a second serve, and she takes advantage to remain in the match with a backhand winner. She can't retain that momentum though, and two errors gift Williams an easy passage into the second round.
Serena Williams records her 23th successive victory with a straightforward win over Ashleigh Barty. Despite the defeat, the 17-year-old delivered an encouraging display, but as predicted, the power of the world number one was the decisive factor, and she will take some stopping over the next two weeks.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match, and concludes our coverage of the first day of the 2014 Australian Open. Day two features the likes of Nadal, Murray, Federer, Azarenka and Sharapova - I'm sure you wouldn't want to miss that! Goodbye for now.
