Defending champion Victoria Azarenka was quick to defend the depth of women’s tennis after cruising into the third round of the Australian Open.
Russian Maria Sharapova has led a march of leading players who have strolled through the early rounds with little effort.
Sharapova, the third seed, has started her campaign without conceding a game in either of her first two rounds.
It’s the most effortless start to a grand slam since Australian Wendy Turnbull’s feat at her home major in 1985.
Former winner and favourite Serena Williams has been almost as ruthless, despite playing with an ankle injury she sustained in the first round.
Williams failed to concede a game in her opening match then reached the third round with a 6-2 6-0 win over young Spaniard Garbine Muguruza.
But Azarenka, the world No.1, said after beating Greek player Eleni Daniilidou 6-1 6-0 in just 55 minutes, the scoreline could be deceiving.
“Well, I think it’s really competitive,” Azarenka said.
“The score sometimes doesn’t tell the whole story about the match, and to win matches like 0-0, it requires a lot of discipline, a lot of focus.
“Sometimes it’s harder than winning, you know, 2-2 or something like that,” she said.
“I honestly can only speak for myself, but it seems like everybody is in great form, and it’s going to be very interesting.”
Azarenka, who conceded five games in her first match, said she was now in a “competitive mode”.
“I felt really good, I enjoyed a lot the way I was focused,” she said.
“It was definitely something that I stepped up from my first match, and I was in the zone trying to execute all of my shots.
“I was trying to make everything happen, and that’s what I’m happy about.”
But she warned that no top player could afford to be blase about their lower ranked opponents, even if the scoreline was flattering.
“Never underestimate anybody,” Azarenka said. “Anybody on a given day can play an outstanding match, especially when they have nothing to lose.”