It's squeaky bum time for...

Two five-set contests in three days proved too much for John Isner on Friday and his exit left the United States without a single man standing in the last 16 of the Australian Open for the first time since 1973.

Some things never change in Australian tennis. Lleyton Hewitt can usually be relied upon to put his fans through the wringer, while the weight of local expectations always sits heavily on the shoulders of Sam Stosur, the best Australian woman player for 30 years.

Munster 19 Scarlets 13

1. Instead of a Book by Diana Athill

£20, granta.com

Can anyone resist the 94-year-old grand dame of publishing? This volume of letters spans 30 years.

If Serena Williams does not win the US Open here next weekend it will be one of the biggest surprises in the sport since Tim Henman's great grandmother shocked Wimbledon by becoming the first woman to serve overarm at the All England Club 110 years ago.

Serena Williams was dominant early and closed out a straight sets win over No. 4 seed Viktoria Azarenka 6-1, 7-6 (5).

New Zealand start as huge favourites. Woebetide them if they come up short

Serena Williams was already a hot favourite to win the US Open and the odds on the American grew even shorter last night when Maria Sharapova was beaten in the third round by Italy's Flavia Pennetta. Sharapova, who lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, was Williams' most likely challenger for the title, though you would never have guessed it from this ragged display.

Serena Williams returned to the scene of her most infamous moment and swatted aside Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski 6-1 6-1 to wrap up the second day's play at the US Open.

The US is facing its longest wait for a new Agassi or Sampras – the time has come to cast net wider

Serena Williams has only played a handful of matches since her comeback from foot surgery and a life-threatening illness, but that won't deter her from attempting to reclaim the top spot as soon as possible.

With her vivid joys and dreads, Sabine Lisicki is not just emerging as a plausible winner of this tournament. For the breakthrough she made yesterday – a quarter-final defeat of Marion Bartoli, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 – resembled an early bloom of springtime, of some overdue renaissance in the women's game.