BEST images from the Australian Open

As the Australian Open enters its second week and the top players battle it out in the knockout stages, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams are shaping as possible title contenders among the women, while Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer have underlined themselves as the main contenders in the men's sections.

The first week provided lot of riveting action on court even as temperatures in Melbourne soared to extremes.

Here are some of the best images of the week gone by at the Open.

Top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after beating Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in their men's singles match.

Djokovic survived an early onslaught and a late fightback from Wawrinka to seal a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7, 12-10 win in five hours, in a pulsating fourth-round clash to advance to the quarter-finals.

Russia's Maria Sharapova hits a return to Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium during their singles match.

Sharapova progressed with brutal efficiency to reach the last eight, having lost just five games all week - an Australian Open record.

Sharapova has achieved her four wins in just 249 minutes, earning more than $1,000 a minute given the $250,000 purse for quarter-finalists.

The second seed was held up briefly when her serve deserted her in the first set but she still hammered Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-0, 6-1 to set up a repeat of last year's last eight clash with compatriot Ekaterina Makarova.

An official checks out on Serena Williams of the United States after she tumbled during her singles match against Edina Gallovits-Hall of Romania.

Leading 4-0 in the first set, Serena fell over near the baseline. The American went on to complete a 6-0, 6-0 wipeout in her first match at the Open.

Spectators cool off in front of misting fans during the second day.

Suncream, hats and icepacks were the order of the day at Melbourne Park as temperatures crept steadily towards the 40 degrees Celsius mark during the first week of the tournament.

Spain's David Ferrer watches the ball during his men's singles match against Tim Smyczek of the United States.

Ferrer, Spain's main hope in the absence of Rafa Nadal, won 6-0, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours, 38 minutes to enter the third round.

Germany's Tobias Kamke has his shoulder massaged during the men's singles second round match against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland.

Kamke retired from the match with Wawrinka leading 6-3, 7-6.

Benoit Paire of France reacts during the singles first round match against second seed Roger Federer of Switzerland.

Federer started the tournament with an easy 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 victory.

Fans watch as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France plays Japan's Go Soeda in their singles second round match.

Seventh-seeded Tsonga registered a convincing 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 victory.

Andy Murray of Britain serves during his first round match against Robin Haase of the Netherlands.

Haase was no match for US Open champion Murray, thrashed 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.

Spain's Nicolas Almagro serves to Steve Johnson of the United States during the men's singles first round match on day one.

Johnson gave 10th-seeded Almagro a mighty scare before the Spaniard prevailed 7-5, 6-7, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2.