Nadal was leading 6-0, 5-0 when Brazilian journeyman Marcos Daniel threw in the towel after being troubled by a left knee problem. Andy Murray went through in similar circumstances when Slovakia’s Karol Beck retired with a shoulder problem while trailing 6-3, 6-1, 4-2 during an action-packed day two.
Nadal will play US qualifier Ryan Sweeting next as he targets the “Rafa Slam” — the first time one man has held all four major titles since Rod Laver in 1969. The Spaniard’s heart went out to Daniel. “It’s a terrible feeling to pull out of a match with an injury and I wish him all the best and a fast recovery,” said Nadal.
Swedish fourth-seed Robin Soderling beat Italy’s Potito Starace 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in straight sets.
Clijsters strolls through
Clijsters steamrolled the distraught Safina in just 44 minutes for her fourth white wash at the tournament, but the first against an illustrious opposition. Injury-hit Safina, a former world number one, was a beaten finalist just two years ago and she was again inconsolable as she left Rod Laver Arena, burying her head in her hands as she faced the media.
Serbia’s Ivanovic, another former number one and the 2008 French Open champion, continued her miserable Grand Slam form with a quick exit at the hands of 49th-ranked Russian Ekaterina Makarova.
Women’s second-seed Vera Zvonareva moved towards her third consecutive Grand Slam final with an easy 6-2, 6-1 win over Sybille Bammer and Australia’s Samantha Stosur crushed American wildcard Lauren Davis in just 53 minutes.
Elsewhere, former world number one Jelena Jankovic, seeded seventh, ended a six-match losing streak as she went through 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) against Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2011.
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