Melbourne, Jan 20(ANI): World No.1 Rafael Nadal and World No.4 Robin Soderling blasted their way into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday.
Nadal swept past American qualifier Ryan Sweeting in three sets 6-2, 6-1,6-1 at Melbourne Park, while Soderling outclassed Gilles Muller 6-3, 7-6, 6-1.
It was Nadal's 23rd consecutive Grand Slam match win. He will now face Australian 18-year-old wildcard Bernard Tomic in the third round.
On the other hand, Soderling, runner-up at the 2009 and 2010 French Opens, had arrived in Melbourne as a dark horse after never previously getting past the second round here, but must now be considered a realistic contender, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
He now plays Jan Hernych in the third round after the Czech qualifier beat 30th seed Thomas Belluci in five sets.
French 13th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Canadian Milos Raonic also scored routine second-round wins.
Tsonga outclassed Italian Andreas Seppi 6-3, 7-6(1), 7-6(5), while Raonic crushed 22nd seed Michael Llodra 7-6(3), 6-3, 7-6(4).
Tenth seed Mikhail Youzhny had to fight hard before beating qualifier Blaz Kavcic 6-3 6-1, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1, while No.15 seed Marin Cilic eased through in straight sets over Colombian Santiago Giraldo. (ANI)
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