Rafa, Serena power through to Round 3

MELBOURNE, January 19 

Hours after reigning champion Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal raised hopes of filling the power vacuum after demolishing Marcos Baghdatis 6-3 6-1 6-3 to reach the third round.

Nadal has had two lean years at the Majors, but on the same Rod Laver Arena where Djokovic fell, the 14-time Major champion showed enough of the old passion and firepower to suggest he may yet go deep in the second week. “What Novak did here is just amazing,” said Nadal. “Six victories here, six titles. For a lot of years he has been in the semifinals, finals, and winning here. So it’s normal then (to lose). It’s not possible to be every time in that situation.” 

Nadal needed only two hours and 13 minutes to defeat Cypriot Baghdatis.

Serena steamrolls Safarova

Serena Williams’s pursuit of a 23rd Grand Slam title gathered momentum when she thrashed Czech Lucie Safarova 6-3 6-4 to reach the third round. The American, who arrived at Melbourne Park having played only two matches since last year’s US Open, dispelled doubts about her fitness and reminded would-be challengers of her championship credentials by sweeping aside two high quality opponents this week.

Radwanska ousted

Third seed and former semifinalist Agnieszka Radwanska was knocked out of the second round by Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, becoming the highest seed to fall in the women’s draw at Melbourne Park. — Reuters

Paes bows out of men’s doubles

It was a bad day for the Indians with Leander Paes and the rising team of Purav Raja and Divij Sharan making first round exits from the men’s doubles event. Paes and Brazil’s Andre Sa lost 4-6 7-6(3) 6-4 to 10th seeds Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi. Raja and Sharan suffered a 7-6(9) 7-6(4) defeat against Frenchmen Jonathan Eysseric and Fabrice Martin. — PTI