Nadal aims debut hard-court major
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AFP
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Ocak 23, 2009 00:00
MELBOURNE - Top seed Rafael Nadal warned he was getting closer to his first hard-court Grand Slam title after another convincing win at the Australian Open yesterday.
Nadal rolled Roko Karanusic of Croatia 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round to set up a testing clash with Germany's Tommy Haas.
The Spaniard was previously regarded as a clay-court specialist but he won his first Wimbledon title on grass last year and led the tour on hard surfaces with a 46-10 win-loss record.Â
"I've won in Toronto, at the Olympics, Montreal, Madrid and Indian Wells on this kind of surface," he said. "When you win these tournaments playing against the best players of the world, why can't you win a Grand Slam on hard courts?"
Nadal, 22, reached the semifinals both here and at the US Open last year and said he hoped to break his duck this season.
"I'm always trying to improve on this surface. Hopefully this year I'll have a chance to win here or at the US Open," he said.
The Spaniard, who earlier blew away Christophe Rochus, dropped his level slightly against Karanusic but still missed only one break point as he wrapped it up in 97 minutes.
Nadal broke twice before sealing the opening set with an ace, then took the second at a canter and clinched victory on his first match point when Karanusic put a forehand wide.
Playing better
"I played better in the first round but it was still a good result today," he said. "The other guy played very irregular. Sometimes he played well, sometimes he had some mistakes, so it was tough to get any rhythm. But the result was good. I think I won without problems."
Nadal's scintillating form leaves the men's title race wide open with all the top seeds excelling in their early matches. Three-time winner Roger Federer was in vintage touch against Evgeny Korolev while defending champion Novak Djokovic hit top form as he demolished Jeremy Chardy. Fourth seed Andy Murray plays his second match later.
He said Haas, who is returning from serious shoulder injury, would be his first big test with either Richard Gasquet or Fernando Gonzalez waiting in the fourth round.
The Spaniard was previously regarded as a clay-court specialist but he won his first Wimbledon title on grass last year and led the tour on hard surfaces with a 46-10 win-loss record.Â
"I've won in Toronto, at the Olympics, Montreal, Madrid and Indian Wells on this kind of surface," he said. "When you win these tournaments playing against the best players of the world, why can't you win a Grand Slam on hard courts?"
Nadal, 22, reached the semifinals both here and at the US Open last year and said he hoped to break his duck this season.
"I'm always trying to improve on this surface. Hopefully this year I'll have a chance to win here or at the US Open," he said.
The Spaniard, who earlier blew away Christophe Rochus, dropped his level slightly against Karanusic but still missed only one break point as he wrapped it up in 97 minutes.
Nadal broke twice before sealing the opening set with an ace, then took the second at a canter and clinched victory on his first match point when Karanusic put a forehand wide.
Playing better
"I played better in the first round but it was still a good result today," he said. "The other guy played very irregular. Sometimes he played well, sometimes he had some mistakes, so it was tough to get any rhythm. But the result was good. I think I won without problems."
Nadal's scintillating form leaves the men's title race wide open with all the top seeds excelling in their early matches. Three-time winner Roger Federer was in vintage touch against Evgeny Korolev while defending champion Novak Djokovic hit top form as he demolished Jeremy Chardy. Fourth seed Andy Murray plays his second match later.
He said Haas, who is returning from serious shoulder injury, would be his first big test with either Richard Gasquet or Fernando Gonzalez waiting in the fourth round.