Melbourne: Serena Williams was on track to win a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam Thursday by brushing aside Eugenie Bouchard, as world number one Novak Djokovic won an 2008 Australian Open final rematch with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to sail into third round at the Australian Open . But women’s top seed Simona Halep and young gun Alexander Zverev had to dig deep to make the third round on a day of epic battles and the latest start to a match ever at the tournament. American great Williams followed up her first round 49-minute romp by spending just 70 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to dispose of the Canadian 6-2, 6-2. “It wasn’t an easy match tonight,” said the 37-year-old, seeded just 16. “So I knew ‘Serena, you’ve got to come out hot, you’ve got to come out firing, she’s a really good player and I haven’t had many matches since last year’.” Williams is bidding to match Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam crowns, and win an eighth in Australia, on her first return to Melbourne Park since lifting the trophy in 2017 while pregnant. Serbian top seed Djokovic is also looking to make history by winning a seventh title. He…