2011 Australian Open: Rafael Nadal beats Ryan Sweeting to reach third round
Updated: January 19, 2011, 11:21 PM ET
MELBOURNE, Australia — Rafael Nadal extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 23 matches with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 win over American qualifier Ryan Sweeting to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
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The top-ranked Nadal is aiming to be the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.
He’s conceded only four games en route to the third round, sealing his win over Sweeting on Thursday with another of his rifling forehands.
After retiring with an injury in the quarterfinals at the last Australian Open, Nadal rebounded to win the French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
Nadal hit some shots that Sweeting could barely believe, including an ace to finish the first set and forehand on set point in the second when the Spaniard’s curling shot caught the baseline for the winner. Sweeting challenged the call as he walked off, but the call stood.
The only hint of anything other than complete domination for Nadal came in the third set, when Sweeting broke serve in the fifth game and then had game points to bring it back to 4-2 in a game that went to deuce five times. Again, Nadal held on to convert a break and served out in the next game.
“I feel good. Today the serve started to work much better,” Nadal said. “Only one moment, when the sun came in my eyes. It was a positive victory for me, an important victory.”
All the coverage of his “Rafa Slam” had no influence on Nadal’s mindset.
“No, for sure, it’s not a distraction,” he said. “It’s the last thing I’m thinking about right now. I’m trying to find my ideal level.”
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
source : sports.espn.go.com
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