Australian Open day 5: Big guns Federer and Nadal through as the tournament heats up

20^th January 2012

Dean Mears

Dean Mears

20 January 2012

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both progressed in straight sets as the Australian Open starts to heat up. In the women’s draw number one seed Caroline Wozniacki also progressed in straight sets, in a day where the big guns flexed their muscles.

Nadal gave his fans plenty to be optimistic about, as he showed glimpses of his best form against Slovakian qualifier Lukas Lacko. Nadal had lost his first service game, but managed to break back in the fifth and seventh game, to take the first set 6-2. It was plain sailing for the number two seed from then on, breaking again in game one of the second set and the third and seventh games of set three, to finish the straight set victory winning 6-2 6-4 6-2. Nadal, who goes on to face 18^th seed Feliciano Lopez in the next round said: “The body is fine, I’m very happy to be in the fourth round. It was a really complete, solid match and I’m very happy about my game.”

It was slightly tougher for number three seed Roger Federer, who saw of the 6ft 10 Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 6-3. Federer had handed Karlovic a set point after missing a pass, but managed to beautifully lob the Croat to save the point, going on to take the first set tie-breaker 8-6. Federer then managed to save two game points in the second set, before breaking late on to take control of the contest; and it wasn’t until the 11th game of set three that the grand slam winner could break the big serving Croat, allowing him to serve his way to victory.

It took the women’s world number one Caroline Wozniacki just 36 minutes to take the first set of her match up with Monica Niculescu. Wozniacki broke in games three and six, to take the first set 6-2. She then raced into a 5-1 lead in the second set, but was kept waiting by Niculescu who broke back against Wozniacki; but the Dane, who needs to reach at least the quarter finals to keep her number one ranking, broke back immediately to take the game 6-2 6-2.

Elsewhere 18th seed Feliciano Lopez is also through, winning a five match thriller 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-7 (0-7) 6-1 against American John Isner, while defending women’s champion Kim Clijsters kept her title defence on track winning in straight sets against Daniela Hantuchova.

Dean Mears