Hewitt fights one last time

Lleyton Hewitt waves to the crowd after his defeat in the men's singles third round match against David Ferrer during the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday. Photo: AFP

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt slammed match-fixing allegations as an "absolute farce" on Thursday as his emotional retirement at the Australian Open was tainted by the corruption claims which have rocked tennis. Hewitt, after going down fighting to David Ferrer at his farewell tournament, rounded on an anonymous online blog linking his name to the explosive report which has overshadowed the year's first Grand Slam.

The 34-year-old Australian called it a "joke" and an "absolute farce" that he should be linked with the match-fixing allegations outlined by the original BBC and BuzzFeed report, which did not reveal any names.

"I think it's a joke to deal with it. You know, obviously, yeah, there's no possible way," said Hewitt, after exiting in the second round.

"I know my name's now been thrown into it. I don't think anyone here would think that I've done anything (like) corruption or match-fixing. It's just absurd.

"For anyone that tries to go any further with it, then good luck. Take me on with it. Yeah, it's disappointing. I think throwing my name out there with it makes the whole thing an absolute farce."

It cast a shadow over an emotional night for Hewitt, who bowed out 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in the second round in combustible fashion, earning a code violation for swearing and calling the umpire a "frigging idiot".

Earlier Andy Murray made dealing with the world's fastest server look easy as he reached the third round alongside Ana Ivanovic.

Murray, faced with the record-breaking serve of the physically imposing Sam Groth, had all the answers as he won 6-0, 6-4, 6-1 in just 91 minutes against the flummoxed Australian.

Ivanovic went through 6-3, 6-3 against Anastasija Sevastova in a match which was held up for 30 minutes when an elderly fan was badly injured by a fall on some steps inside Rod Laver Arena.

Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka hammered Danka Kovinic 6-1, 6-2 to reach the third round .

Progression was less smooth for world number three Garbine Muguruza, who struggled through an error-strewn first set against Kirsten Flipkens before finding her touch and winning 6-4, 6-2.

China's Zhang Shuai had a 27th birthday to remember when she beat Alize Cornet to win only her second ever Grand Slam match, following her upset of Simona Halep in the first round.

Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka, 18, continued her stunning progress at her debut Grand Slam, beating Ukrainian 18th seed Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4 to reach the last 32.

Elsewhere, 2014 men's champion Stan Wawrinka beat Czech veteran Radek Stepanek in straight sets, while Bernard Tomic and John Millman both kept the Australian flag flying in the third round. Canada's Milos Raonic beat Tommy Robredo in unusual fashion when he secured victory with the only service break of the match.