Venus Williams has come from a set down to progress through to the second round of the Australian tennis Open

After losing the first set to Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-7, Williams powered back to win the next to 7-6, 6-2.

ASB Classic fan favourite Genie Bouchard has advanced to the second round with a win over a Chinese qualifier.

The Canadian needed less than an hour to dispatch Peng Shuai in straight sets.

Serena Williams advanced earlier this afternoon in comprehensive fashion, beating Germany's Tatjana Maria 6-love 6-2.



In the men's draw, Alexander Zverev and Kei Nishikori have both advanced.



Fresh out of school and into the Black Ferns Sevens contracted squad.

Coach Allan Bunting has included Jazmin Hotham, Mahina Paul and Montessa Tairakena in his 2019 national squad.

Hotham had a training contract last year, while the other two headed to the Youth Olympics where they won a gold medal.

Coach Allan Bunting says they aren't being thrown into the deep end.



The Black Ferns Sevens return to the field at the 'Fast Four' invitational later this month in Hamilton before the World Series resumes in Sydney.



Cronulla co-captain Wade Graham has committed to a three-year contract extension with the NRL club.

Graham, who played for Australia and New South Wales in 2017, will ink a new deal to remain with the Sharks until the end of the 2022 season.

Graham, undergoing rehab after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in Cronulla's finals loss to the Sydney Roosters, will become the Sharks sole skipper when Paul Gallen retires.



James Harden has scored 57 points to guide the Houston Rockets to a 112-94 NBA victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.