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1/20/09 2:05 PM | Ricky Dimon
Rafael Nadal makes quick work of Christophe Rochus in the first round on Tuesday. Tommy Haas and Mario Ancic also advance.
Rafael Nadal d. Christophe Rochus 6-0, 6-2, 6-2
Nadal's 2009 Australian Open campaign got off to an ideal start on Tuesday night in Rod Laver Arena, as the Spaniard needed just one hour and 17 minutes to destroy Rochus. The 75th-ranked Belgian was no match for the world No. 1 and that became apparent in a devastating 19-minute first set. Rochus at least managed to win games in sets two and three, but Nadal never showed any signs of letting his opponent back into the match. Melbourne's top seed with an impressive winner-to-error ratio of 47 to 19. Nadal dropped a mere seven points in 11 service games, obviously never facing a break point. In round two Nadal will take on Roko Karanusic, a five-set winner over Florent Serra.
Tommy Haas d. Eduardo Schwank 6-3, 6-3, 6-4
It was a successful start to 2009 for Haas, who was playing in his first match since last season's U.S. Open. The oft-injured German sat out the rest of 2008 with an injury, but he had no problems with Schwank on Tuesday evening. Haas, ranked 79th in the world at age 30, used two breaks of serve to ease through the first set. His second break finished off the opener and allowed him to start set two on his own serve. Again Haas rolled through a frame of play without getting broken and one break of his own was enough to take a two-set lead. His serve collapsed in the third, providing Schwank with a slight opening. The Argentine capitalized on his opponent's 41 percent first serving in the form of his first two breaks of the match. Unfortunately for the 22-year-old, he donated the favor back three times. Haas served out the proceedings at 5-4 to book a second-round meeting with Flavio Cipolla, a four-set winner over Dmitry Tursunov.
Mario Ancic d. Wayne Odesnik 7-5, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Ancic seems to be in fine form and more importantly armed with a clean bill of health to begin 2009 as he knocked out qualifier Wayne Odesnik in four sets on Tuesday. The oft-injured Croat reached the Sydney quarterfinals last week and carried over that momentum into the first two sets against Odesnik. Ancic used two breaks of serve in the first and one in the second to seize a two-set advantage. The American, however, won three qualifying matches just to get into the main draw and he was not about to let his stay in Melbourne end quietly. Ancic actually served his best in the third (89 percent), but Odesnik raised his level of play considerably to fourth. But Ancic soon regained control and he dropped just three points in his last four service games. The 6'5'' Ancic will no contest a huge-serving affair with 6'10'' countryman Ivo Karlovic, who defeated Daniel Gimeno-Traver in straight sets.
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nadal played a fabulous game...tat too on hardcourt(his weaker area when compared to grass n clay)...i was shocked.....he was awesome...he may reach the final if play like this....
ravikiran , 1/20/09 3:52 PM
Nadal looked very good and I already see a Nadal-Murray semi-final!? Nobody of course will bother talking about Nadal until after the semi-final, but at that point there will be a media shift! Nadal as the current #1 deserves more respect, as well as Federer for all his accomplishments. Of course Djokovic as a defending Champion is completely being overlooked. Murray should be commended for what he accomplished during the last 6 months, but he better live up to all the expectations and then the media can call him the "Tennis King of 2009". Until then, I guess we will sit back and enjoy a spectacular season!
arailic , 1/20/09 5:53 PM
Don't you ever forget Tsonga Bonga. if he tunes up his game both Nadal and Muscular Murray may be in trouble? We'll have to wait ans see.
posmatrac , 1/20/09 7:02 PM
nadal's game is as beautiful as he is! if he continues to turn up the heat in australia, we are in for a delicious treat! vamos, rafa!
memi , 1/20/09 7:09 PM
What to say, Nadal is king, such an explosive match, it seems to me, he's fully recovered, glad to see that...
gordana , 1/21/09 8:53 AM
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Nadal was destructive
JohnnyM , 1/20/09 3:31 PM