2011 Australian Open: Rafael Nadal and Mikhail Youzhny ease through to Round 2
World number one Rafael “Rafa” Nadal could not have asked for a better start to the event than his match against Marcos Daniel. Rafa is currently contesting for his second Australian Open title and his fourth straight Grand Slam.
The Spaniard currently holds the title at the Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the United States Open, hoping to win the title next week as well so as to hold all four Grand Slams at once. This feat, termed the “Rafa Slam” in the media, was last achieved by Rod Laver in 1969.
Nadal opened his title bid playing world number ninety three, Daniels. Given the difference in their rankings and the fact that he already led the head to head score by 2-0, predictions made by fans and critics alike were in the Spaniard’s favour. Though everyone thought of a straight sets victory, no one could have predicted an uncontested victory.
Rafa won the toss and opened serve. Rushing to the lead, Nadal was merciless in his shots and losing only three points on service secured a bagel set win in almost twenty five minutes.
Continuing his dominance over the Brazilian, Nadal continued his perfect climb in the score. Leading the score 5-0, Nadal was ready to break the twelfth game and secure another 6-0 victory when Daniel decided to give the Spaniard a walkover into the second round, retiring on account of a knee injury.
Seeing as he was nowhere near in catching up with Nadal, it was a smart move on the Brazilian’s part. An early, somewhat respectable end to what would surely have been an embarrassing defeat for Daniel.
Moving ahead alongside Rafa is tenth seed Mikhail Youzhny. Like all the top ten seeds yesterday, Youzhny sailed into the next round in straight sets with minimal resistance. Having never moved past the quarterfinal round (in 2008) Youzhny hopes for a better run this year.
Coming from the first round exit at the exhibition event in Kooyong, Youzhny started strong in the Grand Slam today. Pitted against Marsel Ilhan for the second time in his career, Youzhny maintained his not set loss record against the Turkish professional.
Breaking Ilhan’s serve twice, Youzhny sailed to a comfortable 6-2 victory in the first set, repeating the feat in the second set for a 6-3 victory. The two were caught in a neck to neck race for the lead and with both determined to not let up, Ilhan forced the set into a tiebreaker. Keeping the score tied for ten points, Youzhny caught a break at the eleventh and with a perfect ace sealed his 7-5 victory in the tiebreaker. Youzhny sealed his straight sets victory in less than two hours.
Nadal next faces either qualifier Ryan Sweeting or compatriot Daniel Gimeno-Traver while Youzhny moves ahead to play qualifier Blaz Kavcic. The latter secured a second round clash after bouncing back from being one set down against Kevin Richardson, prevailing 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(4), 7-6(5).
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