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They shipped
Rafael Nadal, 5th in the world, beat the German Yannick Hanfmann (126th) without shaking, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.
The score, unflattering for the loser from qualifying but who evolved at a very high level, finally says a lot about the game of the Spaniard.
"Today, his level was much higher than his ranking indicates," insisted the 35-year-old Mallorcan.
Nadal had already impressed in the 1st round to eliminate Marcos Giron (66th) 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, as he made his return to the Major, after months of treating a foot injury and then a contracted Covid in December and who put it flat.
Faced with Hanfmann, who bravely played his luck, he appeared very solid during the 2h42 that the game lasted, both physically and in his game (30 winning moves for 26 unforced errors), even if it took him five match points to conclude.
His compatriot Carlos Alcaraz (31st), either, did not leave too many forces on the court to beat the Serbian Dusan Lajovic (39th) 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 and become at 18 the youngest player to reach the 3rd round in Melbourne since Bernard Tomic in 2011.
The Australian public who come to see Ashleigh Barty play has been unlucky since the start of the tournament: the world No.1 swallows her opponents without heating them up.
Australian Ashleigh Barty against Italian Lucia Bronzetti in the second round of the Australian Open on January 19 in Melbourne Martin KEEP AFP
She thus blew the Italian Lucia Bronzetti (142nd and qualifying) 6-1, 6-1 in 52 minutes, two days after absorbing the obstacle Lesia Tsurenko (119th) 6-0, 6-1 in 54 minutes .
"I wanted to use my experience today and start strong, she explained. That's what I did. I served well, I made lots of good forehands and I did well controlled the game. I'm happy," she said.
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They suffered
American Sebastian Korda (43rd) and Frenchman Corentin Moutet (100th) ignited the small N.8 court and, after 4:47 of a spectacular showdown, it was the first to win the super tie break of the 5th set.
Frenchman Corentin Moutet against American Sebastian Korda in the 2nd round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 19 William WEST AFP
Moutet, who talked a lot with his clan, the noisy public, the doctor, served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth end, then he saved two match points at 6-5 in the fifth, before finally bow 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5, 7-6 (10/6).
Incredibly placid until then, Korda threw down her last strength to perform the scissor leap of victory inherited from her father Petr.
His next opponent, Pablo Carreno (21st), himself fought an epic 4:10 fight to beat the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (62nd) 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3) , 3-6, 6-4.
"Maybe I didn't play my best game today but I never gave up, because I felt at times that I was stronger than him," commented Carreno.
Proof of this will never to admit defeat, which will remain as the daybreak.
Lobé, the Dutchman relaxes, manages to touch the outside edge of the frame the ball which goes in a bell forward with a very strong retro effect.
Falling back into the Carreno camp, she returns to the Dutch side of the net.
But the Spaniard arrives with a bang, passes between the net post and the referee's chair without touching anything and pushes the ball into the court.
He has the right, he scores the point.
Tough fight also delivered by Denis Shapovalov (14th) to beat the Korean Kwon Soonwoo (54th) 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (3/7), 6-7 (6/8), 7-5, 6-2.
French Harmony Tan retires through injury against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 19 Paul Crock AFP
Harmony Tan also suffered but differently: the Frenchwoman, injured in the left calf, gave up at the very end of the match, on the advice of the referee, and left the Margaret Court Arena in a wheelchair.
© 2022 AFP