• Australian Open, Day Three

Nadal cruises as Federer is handed a walkover

ESPN staff
January 18, 2012
Rafael Nadal forced his way into the third round © Getty Images
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Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer remain on course for a semi-final showdown at the Australian Open after both waltzed into the third round on Wednesday.

Nadal kept his errors to a minimum during the 6-4 6-3 6-4 triumph over Tommy Haas, frustrating the German throughout the match. Haas did provide a scare for Nadal, though, as he surged ahead early in the third set, only to see the second seed claw his way back and take the match on Haas' serve.

Nadal had both knees heavily strapped during the match, but showed no signs of physical discomfort as he dominated the lengthy rallies against Haas from the baseline. Haas began to push shots wide and long in an attempt to stimy the Spaniard, but his 38th unforced error came on match point as he lashed at a forehand.

Lukas Lacko is up next for Nadal after the Slovak beat Donald Young 6-3 6-1 3-6 6-3.

Federer, meanwhile, received a saloon passage to the third round as he progressed in a walkover. The Swiss ace was scheduled to play Germany's world No.93 Andreas Beck in the fourth match on Hisense Arena, but the German withdrew due to a back injury.

The walkover means Federer still has not played away from Rod Laver Arena since 2004. The third seed will now face either big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic, who dispatched Carlos Berlocq 7-6(4) 3-6 6-3 6-4.

Mardy Fish was the big-name casualty on Day Three © Getty Images
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Top-ranked American Mardy Fish became the first big-name casualty in the men's draw as he was ousted by spirited Colombian Alejandro Falla. Fish, seeded eighth, battled throughout, but the world No. 71 won crucial points in the tiebreakers to progress.

Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro enjoyed a routine victory to move into the third round. The Argentine needed two hours and 42 minutes to negotiate his way past Slovenian Blaz Kavcic 6-4 7-5 6-3 to set up a third-round encounter with Lu Yen-Hsun.

Australian teenager Bernard Tomic delighted the crowds as he moved into the third round with victory over Sam Querrey. Tomic, who came from two sets down to beat Fernando Verdasco on Monday, once again started slowly, but bounced back to claim a 3-6 6-3 7-6(3) 6-3 victory. Next up for Tomic is Alexandr Dolgopolov, who claimed his second straight five-sets win in three days, beating Tobias Kamke 4-6 6-1 6-1 3-6 8-6.

Seventh seed Thomas Berdych overcame a late charge by Olivier Rochus to march into the third round. The Czech appeared largely untroubled, but had to fight back in the third-set tiebreaker to seal the victory.

American John Isner survived an epic five setter against David Nalbandian to book his place in the third round. The No. 16 seed twice came from a set down before eventually triumphing 4-6 6-3 2-6 7-6(5) 10-8 in four hours and 41 minutes. Isner will meet Feliciano Lopez in round three after the Spaniard came from a set down to beat Flavio Cipolla 7-5 7-6(4) 6-2.

Stanislas Wawrinka defied a stubborn Marcos Baghdatis to book his place in the third round with a 7-6(3) 6-4 5-7 6-1 victory to set up a meeting with Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, who avoided defeat at the hands of talented Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the tenth seed claiming a 4-6 6-3 6-7(4) 6-4 6-0 victory in a shade under three-and-a-half hours.

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