Wiping the slate clean
Melbourne, January 23
Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios reached the Australian Open third round today after the weather-disrupted tournament faced a new challenge: dirty rain which left courts muddy and unplayable.
Calf injury sees Sania pull out of tournament
- Melbourne: Sania Mirza’s first Grand Slam outing after maternity leave ended with an early exit as the Indian ace retired midway into her women’s doubles first round match due to a calf injury here today. Sania and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok were trailing 2-6 0-1 against the Chinese team of Xinyun Han and Lin Zhu when the Indian called it quits. Sania had injured her leg during a practice session. Her right calf strapped heavily, Sania struggled to move freely on the court. PTI
After a day of clean-up operations and delays, Australia’s Kyrgios fought his way past Frenchman Gilles Simon in a 6-2 6-4 4-6 7-5 victory, while Nadal notched up a 6-3 7-6(7) 6-1 win over Argentina’s Federico Delbonis saw him miscue a shot that hit a ballgirl in the head, but he melted hearts when he apologised and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I was so scared for her, honestly,” the 19-time Grand Slam winner said. “The ball was quick and straight on the head. She’s a very brave girl.”
Kyrgios and Nadal stay on course for a fourth round clash and the next instalment in their grudge match after the Aussie hit back at criticism from the “super salty” Spaniard last year.
Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev downed Egor Gerasimov 7-6(7) 6-4 7-5, Dominic Thiem survived a scare against Alex Bolt before prevailing 6-2 5-7 6-7(7) 6-1 6-2.
In the women’s draw, Simona Halep beat Dart 6-2 6-4 while Belinda Bencic knocked out Jelena Ostapenko 7-5 7-5. Garbine Muguruza ousted Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3 3-6 6-3. — AFP
