Tennis Briefs

Nadal comfortable to face Federer MELBOURNE – Clay-court king Rafael Nadal says he can win on all playing surfaces after he successfully launched his Australian Open campaign in straight sets yesterday.

The Spanish world number two didn’t concede a break point as he put away the 90th-ranked American 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-2 in 2hr 7min under the centre court stadium roof, closed because of the tournament’s extreme heat rule. Nadal was taken to five sets in his only previous meeting with Kendrick in the second round on grass at last year’s Wimbledon, but the Spanish left-hander had no problems this time.* Murray misses out on rare whitewash MELBOURNE – Andy Murray missed the chance to inflict a rare straights sets whitewash as he cruised effortlessly into the second round of the Australian Open yesterday.The top-ranked British player, seeded 15, crushed hapless Spaniard Alberto Martin, 6-0, 6-0, 6-1 in just 70 minutes on Vodafone Arena.Murray smacked his racquet in irritation when he missed a chance of becoming the first man to win all sets to love at the Australian Open in over 30 years.The 19-year-old Scot broke lamentable Martin’s service eight times and the Spaniard brought an ironic cheer from the crowd when he finally held service in the penultimate game of the match.Murray said a lapse in concentration attributed to letting Martin off the statistical hook.* Davydenko through in straight sets MELBOURNE – Russian third seed Nikolay Davydenko strolled in the second round of the Australian Open with a straight sets victory over Argentine Sergio Roitman yesterday.Davydenko downed Roitman 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 and will now play either Gilles Muller of Luxembourg or Gaston Gaudio of Argentina.* Blake handles mental barrier MELBOURNE – James Blake geared himself for a mental challenge to overcome former finalist Carlos Moya twice in four days to kick-start his Australian Open campaign yesterday.The American fifth seed followed up his Sydney International title win over the experienced Spaniard last Saturday with a 7-6 (10/8), 6-2, 6-4 win in 1 hour 50 minutes on the enclosed Vodafone Arena.Blake rated the 41st-ranked Moya the dangerous unseeded floater in the men’s draw, but he had few problems breaking his serve three times and fighting off one break point against him for a comprehensive victory.Nampa-AFPNadal was taken to five sets in his only previous meeting with Kendrick in the second round on grass at last year’s Wimbledon, but the Spanish left-hander had no problems this time.* Murray misses out on rare whitewash MELBOURNE – Andy Murray missed the chance to inflict a rare straights sets whitewash as he cruised effortlessly into the second round of the Australian Open yesterday.The top-ranked British player, seeded 15, crushed hapless Spaniard Alberto Martin, 6-0, 6-0, 6-1 in just 70 minutes on Vodafone Arena.Murray smacked his racquet in irritation when he missed a chance of becoming the first man to win all sets to love at the Australian Open in over 30 years.The 19-year-old Scot broke lamentable Martin’s service eight times and the Spaniard brought an ironic cheer from the crowd when he finally held service in the penultimate game of the match.Murray said a lapse in concentration attributed to letting Martin off the statistical hook.* Davydenko through in straight sets MELBOURNE – Russian third seed Nikolay Davydenko strolled in the second round of the Australian Open with a straight sets victory over Argentine Sergio Roitman yesterday.Davydenko downed Roitman 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 and will now play either Gilles Muller of Luxembourg or Gaston Gaudio of Argentina.* Blake handles mental barrier MELBOURNE – James Blake geared himself for a mental challenge to overcome former finalist Carlos Moya twice in four days to kick-start his Australian Open campaign yesterday.The American fifth seed followed up his Sydney International title win over the experienced Spaniard last Saturday with a 7-6 (10/8), 6-2, 6-4 win in 1 hour 50 minutes on the enclosed Vodafone Arena.Blake rated the 41st-ranked Moya the dangerous unseeded floater in the men’s draw, but he had few problems breaking his serve three times and fighting off one break point against him for a comprehensive victory.Nampa-AFP