Nadal outmuscles local teen to reach fourth round
Melbourne: Rafa Nadal overpowered 18-year-old local hope Bernard Tomic 6-2 7-5 6-3 to book his spot in the last 16 of the Australian Open on Saturday.
The world number one, bidding to become only the third man, and the first since 1969, to hold all four grand slam titles at once, was given a real workout by the teenager under the floodlights.
Nadal, Melbourne champion in 2009, bombed through the first set, but Tomic came out swinging in the second, bursting into a 4-0 lead before the swashbuckling Spaniard came roaring back.
Red T-shirt drenched in sweat, Nadal finally took the second set 7-5 with a fierce serve down the middle and after an early break in the third, closed out the match with a drilled backhand which was too hot for Tomic to handle.
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