By Robert Martin

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson / Corleve

 

(January 18, 2012) Two days ago Rafael Nadal did not know whether he would be able to compete in this year’s Australian Open due to a right knee injury that he sustained while sitting in a chair at his hotel. After being cleared to play on Monday, Nadal showed absolutely no signs of the pain as he dismissed Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to advance.

In much the same way that Nadal’s heavy topspin ground strokes wear down the backhand side of Roger Federer, the same could be said against Haas, who has failed to win a single set against the Spaniard in five career matches. The German is a former World No. 2, but a career marred by injury and multiple shoulder surgeries has led to his ranking dropping to No. 190.

Nadal, with his knee still heavily strapped, pounded the backhand wing of Haas, forcing the German into 38 unforced errors. Knowing the consistent style of Nadal, Haas tried to play the aggressor by coming in to the net 29 times, but was only successful on 16 trips.

Advancing in the draw, Nadal will look forward to facing Lukas Lacko, a 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 winner over American Donald Young. Nadal has beaten the Slovak both times they have played, despite Lacko winning a set 6-0 in their last meeting.

Action on Hisense Arena was cut short today when Andreas Beck withdrew from the tournament with a back injury, providing a free pass for Federer to advance to a third-round meeting with the dangerous giant Ivo Karlovic, a 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 winner over Carlos Berlocq.

Due to the walkover for Federer, the final match on Hisense featured Alexandr Dolgopolov, who came into Melbourne nursing an injury that was limiting his movement. The eclectic 13th-seed made things interesting again, finally defeating Tobias Kamke 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 3-6, 8-6 to move into the third round where he will face Bernard Tomic, who recovered from his first round battle with Fernando Verdasco to beat Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-3.

If American John Isner does not want his career to be identified by his epic match with Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, he should find a way to discard the Ironman nickname. It was a 4 hour 42 minute battle that by all accounts Isner should have lost, but somehow he managed to find a way past David Nalbandian 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 10-8.

As Isner looked to be on the verge of experiencing cramping late in the match, Nalbandian appeared to have the match within his grasp. As he continued to hold his serve easily and watched Isner’s own service games deteriorate, he earned a crucial break point at 8-8.

After missing his first two chances, his third and final would be the turning point in the match. A missed serve down the middle was called an ace with the help of a screaming fan, and when Nalbandian asked for the replay, the umpire determined that he had not requested a review in a timely matter.

The call was ultimately upheld and eight points later, Isner sealed the match when Nalbandian missed into the net. Isner’s next opponent will be another big server in Feliciano Lopez, a straight set winner over Flavio Cipolla.

The highest seed to fall so far, Mardy Fish saw his game implode against Alejandro Falla to the tune of 58 unforced errors. The loss opens up the section of the draw for Juan Martin del Potro, a straight set winner over Blaz Kavcic.

The third round promises a contest of big hitters as Tomas Berdych and Kevin Anderson will meet after they dispatched Olivier Rochus and Sergiy Stakhovsky, respectively.