Nadal, Sharapova Escape 2nd-Round Matches At Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Rafael Nadal persevered through stomach cramps to fend off American qualifier Tim Smyczek 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-5 in a second-round match Wednesday at the Australian Open.
Nadal came into the tournament having played in only four tournaments since Wimbledon due to a right wrist injury and appendix surgery.
At the end of the third game of the third set, Nadal called for medical assistance and was given medication for stomach pain.
Serving for the third set at 5-4, Nadal had a double-fault on break point. Smyczek clinched the tiebreaker and the third set with an ace.
Nadal broke Smyczek's service in the 11th game of the fifth set, then held serve to clinch it on his fourth match point in 4 hours, 12 minutes.
No 2 Sharapova Saves 2 Match Points
No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova saved two match points in a narrow escape against No. 150-ranked Alexandra Panova at the Australian Open on Wednesday, advancing to the third round with a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 win.
Sharapova made 51 unforced errors as she went for the lines, saving some of her high-risk winners for when she needed them most in the 10th game of the third set when Panova, who had to come through qualifying and only previously had one win at a major tournament, was serving for the match.
Sharapova says: ``I was one point away twice today from going out of the tournament. She played a pretty inspired match.''
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