Federer, Murray and Nadal all make it through to the next round
First up on the order of play on day 3 of the Australian Open, was Roger Federer, our best tennis pick to reach the final, who was involved in a disagreement with a television cameraman as he reached the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday. The Swiss champion, lost the opening set of his second-round match to Italy’s Simone Bolelli before calling for the trainer to Rod Laver Arena for what initially seemed like a blister on the little finger of his right hand. Federer looked decidedly uncomfortable and was further irritated by the presence of a cameraman, who for him was too close. Roger soon recovered his composure to eventually secure a 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory. Asked about the injury, second seed Federer said: “I don’t know. It felt like a bee stung me. I never had this pain before and it was disturbing me. I knew taping it wasn’t the right thing so I just wanted to speak to the trainer. Thankfully it wasn’t as bad at the end. It was a great match. I thought Simone played really well in the first set, so I really had to fight until the middle of the third set and once I got the break I was able to relax a little bit, but it was tough and I’m really pleased to come through as I was already seeing myself explaining losing in the second round so I’m happy I don’t have to do that interview.”
Next came one who is being tipped to surprise, Andy Murray, who knocked Marinko Matosevic out with ease in just 1hr and 41 minutes, insisting that he was not proving a point in doing so. Matosevic had made headlines last year when he said that he would never consider following Murray in appointing the former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo as his own head coach last May, as he would not bring in a woman to run his backroom team. Despite this difference of opinion last summer, Murray and Matosevic are still good friends and can often be found hanging out together in the locker room. “I wasn’t trying to prove a point at all when I was playing Marinko today,” said Murray afterwards. “I was trying to win the match. “I spoke to him a little bit about what he said, and he didn’t mean any harm. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion on anything. If he wants to get coached by a man, that’s absolutely fine. I have absolutely no issue with it at all.”
Third up, not the best tennis pick for the final win, was Rafa Nadal, who persevered through stomach cramps to fend off American qualifier Tim Smyczek 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-5 in his second-round clash at the Australian Open. Nadal came into the tournament having played in only four tournaments since Wimbledon due to a right wrist injury and appendix surgery and at the end of the third game of the third set, Nadal called for medical assistance and was given medication for stomach pain. Serving for the third set at 5-4, Nadal had a double-fault on break point. Smyczek clinched the tiebreaker and the third set with an ace. Nadal then broke Smyczek’s service in the 11th game of the fifth set, and held serve to clinch it on his fourth match point in 4 hours and 12 minutes. Not the kind a match one would want in the opening rounds the most physically challenging Grand Slam tournaments.