Simona Halep thrashes Eugenie Bouchard to reach Australian Open third round

Simona Halep showed no ill effects of an ankle injury as she dispatched Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets to reach the third round of the Australian Open.

The world No 1 rolled her ankle in her first-round win, and was a fitness doubt ahead of today's contest, but was moving freely during her 6-2, 6-2 victory on the Margaret Court Arena.

Bouchard, Wimbledon finalist four years ago, struggled with her service game throughout and was broken seven times in the one-sided contest.

The world No 112 didn't hold serve until the 11th game of the match but was always second best against Halep who is chasing a maiden grand slam title in Melbourne.

9:19AM

Halep speaks

9:17AM

Halep 6-2, 6-2 Bouchard* (*denotes next server)

Oh yes. What a start for Halep who again changes from defence to attack to execute a remarkable backhand winner on the stretch. The world No 1 surprisingly misses one forehand to allow Bouchard to draw level at 30-all and then hands another gift with another wayward groundstroke. She saves one break then delivers a sublime winner on the chase to bring up match point. A rasping forehand proves too good for Bouchard and Halep marches on. GAME, SET AND MATCH: HALEP BEATS BOUCHARD 6-2, 6-2.

9:11AM

Halep* 6-2, 5-2 Bouchard (*denotes next server)

Oh dear, dear, Genie. Another double allows Halep the edge at 15-30 and then hands her break point at 30-40 by over-striking a forehand. She lets out a deep sigh and her head drops. At least this time she gets a first serve in. And she more than backs it up by dominating at the net and dispatching a winner. That's better. Consistency isn't her friend, though, and she hands another free point to Halep. The Romanian turns defence into attack quickly and will come out serving for the match. HALEP BREAKS. 

9:06AM

Halep 6-2, 4-2 Bouchard* (*denotes next server)

Bouchard is struggling with the deep-hitting of Halep and is either being dragged into rushing her groundstrokes and finding the middle or over-striking. The Romanian is wrapping up games at the first opportunity and does so here to allow a two-game cushion.  

9:02AM

Halep* 6-2, 3-2 Bouchard (*denotes next server)

Halep shows great athleticism to chase down a short return and pushes a backhand winner down the line as Bouchard looks on from the baseline. Another wayward forehand from Bouchard, her 21st unforced error of the match so far, gifts Halep another free point and her confidence levels dip as Halep drills another winner down the opposite line. 

Poor old Bouchard, nothing is going her way and she dumps a groundstroke into the middle to hand Halep another break. HALEP BREAKS. 

8:59AM

Halep 6-2, 2-2 Bouchard* (*denotes next server)

Bouchard's unforced errors count continue to hurt her. Halep sends down her first ace of the match for two game points and then secures a comfortable hold when Bouchard slaps a service return long. 

8:56AM

Halep* 6-2, 1-2 Bouchard (*denotes next server)

The Canadian hasn't held serve this match and looks to be over-thinking matters as she goes through her second-service motion. Slowly, slowly she edges to two game points by striking a forehand early down the line. Bouchard swings long to miss the first as Halep hits her fingers to her temple in an attempt to keep her focus. Her pep talk hasn't done the job immediately as Bouchard finally, finally holds. That should give her confidence. BOUCHARD HOLDS FOR FIRST TIME IN MATCH.

8:52AM

Halep 6-2, 1-1 Bouchard* (*denotes next server)

Bouchard finding her rhythm again now that she's not serving and striking freely. She's made to work for her two break points but when Halep hits into the tramlines, she has the break back. BOUCHARD BREAKS. 

8:48AM

Halep* 6-2, 1-0 Bouchard (*denotes next server)

It's one-way traffic as Halep races to three break points early doors in the second. She's showing great anticipation, strength and placement now as she takes it on the first opening by stepping in and pushing a volley into the corner. HALEP BREAKS. 

8:45AM

Halep 6-2 Bouchard* (*denotes next server)

An outswinging forehand winner sets Halep on the right road. Bouchard is struggling with Halep's first serves now as Halep cruises to three set points. Bouchard goes for the corner during the next rally but sends it skidding long and Halep comfortably takes the opening set. HALEP WINS FIRST SET. 

8:42AM

Halep* 5-2 Bouchard (*denotes next server)

You wouldn't think Halep was struggling with an ankle injury heading into this clash the way she is moving so freely around the court. On the flip side, Bouchard is blowing from hot to cold with every passing game as Halep races to three break points. The Canadian pulls out two solid first serves to save two of the breaks but Halep is all over a slower second serve and rushes the net to push a volley home. She'll return from the changeover to serve for the first set. HALEP BREAKS. 

8:38AM

Halep 4-2 Bouchard* (*denotes next server)

But wait, Bouchard isn't about to let this set drift away as she races to three break points. Halep saves the first but then is a passenger at the net as Bouchard passes her. BOUCHARD BREAKS.

8:35AM

Halep* 4-1 Bouchard (*denotes next server)

Bouchard is given a let off when Halep can't dispatch her poorly executed drop shot and the Canadian passes with ease. And from a seemingly winnable position, Halep reels off four straight points to set up another break point. The chair umpire draws laughter from the crowd as he shouts out the scoreline. He's having issues with his mic out there and his repetition of the scores in agitated fashion is highly amusing. Anyway, back to the action. Bouchard saves the break with her second ace of the match but then over-shoots a forehand during the next rally to hand Halep another chance. The Romanian doesn't need another invitation as she leaps on a ricochet off the tape to punch home a winner. HALEP BREAKS. 

8:29AM

Halep 3-1 Bouchard* (*denotes next server)

A couple of wayward smashes from Bouchard put Halep on track for a comfortable hold before a double fault gifts her rival a free point. Halep finally has the honour of being the first player to hold by jumping into a forehand which she lands flush on the baseline. 

8:25AM

Halep* 2-1 Bouchard (*denotes next server)

Wow. What a rally. Quite possibly up there as rally of the week. Both women are worked either side, showing great athleticism and their array of groundstrokes before Halep works an angle to execute a forehand winner cross court. It sets her on the way to another two break points. Bouchard saves the first with a solid first serve down the T and Halep pushes a backhand into the net to miss the second. The heat remains on Bouchard as a drop shot drifts just out but a blistering forehand winner from the No 112 saves a third break point.

Halep won't let up. Break point No 4 later a punching forehand winner into the corner later and Halep has broken again. Neither player is yet to hold. HALEP BREAKS.

8:17AM

Halep 1-1 Bouchard* (*denotes next server)

Halep struggling for service rhythm too. A double fault hands Bouchard a mini-break but the Romanian lands her first point off her serve when the Canadian slaps a forehand into the middle. Halep's ankle is given it's first run-out but it survives an early test. She has bigger things to worry about immediately as Bouchard now has two break points. She takes it on the first, stepping in to a short reply and slapping a volley into the deuce court. BOUCHARD BREAKS.

8:14AM

Halep* 1-0 Bouchard (*denotes next server)

Bouchard, dressed in all-pink barring luminous yellow trainers, strikes first against the lady in red Halep with a body blow during the opening lengthy rally.  

There's early danger for the Canadian on her serve as a sloppy backhand hands Halep an early break point. Bouchard gets a first serve in during the next point but then drags a forehand into the lines. HALEP BREAKS.

8:10AM

The players are out but question marks remain

8:05AM

Head-to-head record

Halep holds a 2-1 lead over Bouchard from past meetings. This will be their second clash at a grand slam coming four years after their duel at Wimbledon when Bouchard beat the Romanian in the semi-finals to reach her maiden major final.

Bouchard's career has failed to kick on since that one-sided loss to Petra Kvitova at SW19 when the world was watching. The Canadian is currently ranked No 112. 

7:34AM

Will Halep bite the dust too?

Morning all. We've already seen two top 10 seeds in the women's draw tumble out of the Aussie Open overnight and there are fitness fears over world No 1 Simona Halep as she gears up for a second-round clash with Eugenie Bouchard.

British No 1 and ninth-seed Johanna Konta slipped to a surprise defeat to 'lucky loser' Bernarda Pera, while No 3 Garbine Muguruza suffered a straight-sets loss to Hsieh Su-wei.

Following the loss of fifth-seed Venus Williams on the opening day, the tournament could be missing four of it's leading ladies by the close of play later.

Halep has been feeling the effects of an ankle injury sustained in her first-round win over qualifier Destanee Aiava.

The Romanian had her ankle strapped in the second set of that victory and speculation in Melbourne has gathered this morning on whether she'll be fit enough to play today.

Let's hope so, otherwise this live blog will be a rather short affair.