Camila Giorgi received praise from Venus Williams after bowing out of the Australian Open at the third round stage.

The fearless Italian pushed Williams, the former world no. 1, all the way in a three-set thriller in Melbourne.

A shock looked on the cards early on as Giorgi won the opening set. She went down 7-3 in a second-set tie-break before running out of steam, with the power and experience of Williams (18) proving crucial in the decider, which she took 6-1.

Williams said: "Camila played some amazing tennis. She did nothing wrong and played very aggressively.

"I'd never played her before, so to play someone at her level for the first time at a major was challenging."

Israel’s Dudi Sela, 29, was outclassed in his third-round meeting with Rafa Nadal.

The Spaniard dropped only one game in the first two sets, before Sela rallied superbly in the third, going down 7-5 at the Rod Laver arena.

Sela said: "My run in Melbourne will certainly help me in the rankings and also with my confidence.”

Australia’s Adam Kellerman won the Wheelchair Wildcard title after beating compatriot Ben Weeks in straight sets in the playoff final.