Nadal, Sharapova survive big scares in Melbourne

FE Team | Published: January 22, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

MELBOURNE, Jan 21 (AFP): Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova survived huge scares after being pushed to the limit at the Australian Open Wednesday, but Roger Federer had an easier workout in the gruelling Melbourne conditions.
World number three Nadal battled stomach cramps to come out on top of a mammoth five-setter with American qualifier Tim Smyczek, with the 14-time Grand Slam champion prevailing 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 7-5 in a 4hr 12min epic.
The Spaniard is returning from injury and with little match practice and said he found it tough going in the humid night conditions, at one point being sick on court.
"For me after a tough period of time out of competition in the last seven months and just playing a few matches, today was a little bit humid and I felt very tired after the first set and for the whole match," he said.
The second seeded Sharapova also struggled, melting down as the afternoon heat was turned up.
She needed to draw on all her experience to save two match points before staging a gritty comeback to beat courageous compatriot Alexandra Panova 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.
World number two Federer also had a wobble, dropping the first set before bouncing back to trounce Italian Simone Bolelli 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and move into the third round.
British sixth seed Andy Murray joined him with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 drubbing of local hope Marinko Matosevic.
Other seeds progressing included men's and women's seventh seeds Tomas Berdych and Eugenie Bouchard, and 10th seeds Grigor Dimitrov and Ekaterina Makarova.
World number ones Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic play their second round matches on Thursday.
While the searing 42 Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit) heat of last year has yet to materialise in Melbourne, temperatures topped 33C and players, including Sharapova and Nadal, draped ice towels around their shoulders at the changeovers.
Sharapova, who can unseat Williams as world number one if she wins the title, wilted badly after winning the opening set, firing a slew of unforced errors that almost had her on an early plane home.
"I didn't actually want to be out here for two-and-a-half hours but that's sometimes the way it goes on days when you're not playing your best -- sometimes it's good enough just to get through," she said.