Rafael Nadal through to fourth round in straight sets

Jan 20, 2012 |

Melbourne

Tags:

Australian Open

Second seed Rafael Nadal overcame Slovakian qualifier Lukas Lacko in straight sets to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open on Friday.

The Spanish 10-time grand slam champion won 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 as he chases his second Australian title.

Nadal wore down the 119th-ranked Lacko after being forced to work hard at the start of the match. The opening point was a 28-shot rally and the first two games took 14 minutes.

The Spanish world number two went on to break Lacko's serve six times to complete victory in 1hr 55min on Rod Laver Arena.

Nadal will now face either American 16th seed John Isner or Spain's 18th seed Feliciano Lopez in the round of 16 on Sunday.

"I have a good feeling, even though the first set was 6-2 it was a really tough one. Lacko is a young player and I wish him all the best for the rest of the season," Nadal said.

The Spaniard claimed the Australian Open title in 2009 but was forced to retire hurt against Andy Murray in 2010 and was hampered by a left adductor injury in his quarter-final defeat to David Ferrer last year.

Nadal is currently joint sixth with Bill Tilden on the list of all-time grand slam men's singles champions behind Roger Federer (16).

Lacko, 24, reached the third round of a grand slam for the first time after defeating Croatia's 28th seed Ivan Ljubicic and American Donald Young.

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