Match report

Chris Guccione © Tennistalk.com
Australian Open
2nd round
1/20/09 1 2 3 4 Tot
au  Chris Guccione 7 4 1 2 1
fr  Gilles Simon 6 6 6 6 3
Gilles Simon © Tennistalk.com
Rafael Nadal © Tennistalk.com
Australian Open
2nd round
1/22/09 1 2 3 Tot
es  Rafael Nadal 6 6 6 3
hr  Roko Karanusic 2 3 2 0
Roko Karanusic © Tennistalk.com
Guillermo Canas © Tennistalk.com
Australian Open
2nd round
1/22/09 1 2 3 Tot
ar  Guillermo Canas 5 3 4 0
cl  Fernando Gonzalez 7 6 6 3
Fernando Gonzalez © Tennistalk.com

  • Nadal surges into third round, joined by Gonzalez, Simon

    1/22/09 6:26 AM | Ricky Dimon
    Rafael Nadal is still perfect through two matches, scoring another straight-set win on Thursday. He is joined in the third round by Fernando Gonzalez and Gilles Simon.

    Rafael Nadal d. Roko Karanusic 6-2, 6-3, 6-2

    Nadal is looking better than he ever has Down Under. The Australian Open's top seed has won six straight sets with no trouble whatsoever after defeating Roko Karanusic in one hour and 37 minutes on Thursday afternoon. Nadal had dismantled Christophe Rochus 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round prior to this most recent dominant performance. Nadal used two breaks of serve in each set to put away Karanusic, a 26-year-old Croat whose career-high ranking is 89th in the world. The Spaniard never dropped his own serve, although Karanusic did get a look at six break points. Four were squandered by the underdog in set one and he also failed to capitalize on the two he saw in the second. Even one break would have made little difference as Nadal was once again in borderline flawless form. The world No. 1 struck 25 winners to just 17 unforced errors, dictating play throughout the proceedings. Things will get a lot tougher for Nadal in the third round against Tommy Haas, a straight-set winner over Flavio Cipolla.

    Fernando Gonzalez d. Guillermo Canas 7-5, 6-3, 6-4

    Both Gonzalez and Canas survived five-set affairs in the first round, but Gonzalez made sure this encounter would be much more straightforward. The No. 13 seed needed just three sets over two hours and 20 minutes to take of a battling but overmatched veteran in Canas. Gonzalez could not break away from the Argentine in the early going, but a break of serve at 6-5 in the first pocketed him the opening frame of play. Sets two and three were also decided by just one break--one to Gonzalez in each set and none for Canas, whereas as the first set saw two for Gonzo and one for Canas. The 31-year-old did well to keep it relatively close despite getting run all over the court by his younger and more offensive opponent. Canas has made a great career out of retrieving and counter-punching, but that is not enough when the man on the other side of the court is firing 52 winners in only three sets; and 19 more winners than errors. Gonzalez will meet Richard Gasquet in a blockbuster third-round contest.

    Gilles Simon d. Chris Guccione 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-2

    After a positive start to the tournament, the Australians are now out of the men's singles draw as Guccione went down to Simon in four sets on Thursday afternoon. But the 6'7'' Aussie did not go away before putting a minor scare into the No. 6 seed early in the proceedings. Guccione blasted seven aces in the opening frame of play and eventually took it in a hard-fought tiebreaker. After that, however, Simon caught fire and found the form that carried him to a surprisingly incredible 2008 campaign. The Frenchman, up to No. 8 in the world, dominated the last three sets, finally getting a good read on his opponent's big serves. Guccione was woeful in his net points as Simon's passing shots were lethal. Even so, Guccione had to keep coming into the forecourt because he cannot come close to staying with the steady Simon from the baseline. The result was a routine yet impressive victory for the favorite following a first-set that had inspired hope in the home crowd. Simon, who finished with an incredible 53 winners to 15 unforced errors, will take on another big server in either Ivo Karlovic or Mario Ancic for a spot in the fourth round.

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