Rafael Nadal vs. Tim Smyczek: Score, Reaction from 2015 Australian Open

Rafael Nadal battled through a gruelling five-set clash with Tim Smyczek to progress into the third round of the 2015 Australian Open.

The 28-year-old Spaniard struggled his way through a 6-2, 3-6, 6-7(2), 6-3, 7-5 win to secure his progression.

Nadal took control in the first set before struggling with fatigue and niggling physical problems against a competitor who will have gained more than a few fans after his terrific performance.

A tenseness limited both players at the start. Nadal sunk a simple return into the net, but Smyczek couldn't find his range in the early stages either. It was the Spaniard who broke first, taking a 3-1 lead after dominating a lengthy rally.

Nadal strode toward the net for a simple winner to confirm his advantage, but this was as easy as things got for the man who had only completed 10 tour matches since July prior to stepping onto the court.

Although Nadal's recent wrist injury and appendix surgery have lowered his personal expectations, it looked as if the third seed would comfortably brush Smyczek aside after taking the first set 6-2, winning 77 percent of points on his first serve, compared to 58 percent from his opponent, per the Australian Open website.

Rob Griffith/Associated Press

However, momentum started to switch at the onset of the second set. Nadal posted a double fault to hand Smyczek a break in the opening game, although two poor misses from the American let Nadal recover at the first opportunity. Smyczek broke again after the former world No. 1 posted another vital double fault and eventually accumulated three set points, which he duly delivered on.

A terrific crosscourt shot put Smyczek up 2-0 in the third, but he missed multiple opportunities to extend his lead. Nadal closed the gap by moving forward once again in an encounter which continued to swing back and forth.

The favourite struggled to deal with humid conditions—sweating so heavily the nearest ball boy was forced to mop the baseline—and called his trainer in at this point with complaints of dizziness.

Hannah Peters/Getty Images

A weary Nadal recuperated slightly with the extended rest, fighting back to break 4-3 in the third. His movement appeared laboured, however, and he lacked the kind of power which has so often dismissed rivals in the past.

Nadal conceded a third break point via double faults as fatigue set in, before an eventual tiebreak was required to decide the set.

Smyczek raced into a 2-0 advantage, putting distance between himself and Nadal at the first opportunity. He cantered to a 7-2 win in the tiebreak, serving out the final point to gain a 2-1 set advantage.

The tournament's social feed provided a snapshot of the vital moment:

Nadal continued to struggle with physical problems. He appeared to jar his hip during the early exchanges of the fourth set, moments after bending over to catch his breath. He started to make points shorter, opting to play the killer shot in order to conserve energy—a tactic which threw Smyczek. Nadal broke 4-2 and eventually clinched the set 6-3 with an improving service game making the difference.

The tournament's social feed highlighted exactly what it meant to the player:

Smyczek saved two break points in the final set, but both battlers matched each other until Nadal broke to make it 6-5. With Nadal 30-0 up, the spirit of the match was summed up when a member of the crowd shouted just as Nadal struck his serve. He sent it wide, but Smyczek ordered for the first serve to be retaken, a truly classy move.

Nadal eventually clinched the victory in a nightmarish encounter, a moment captured on Twitter:

Nadal managed just 43 winners to Smyczek's 64, while the American also enjoyed 15 aces in comparison to three from his opposite. Despite major relief at the end, Nadal underlined the difficulty of his task:

Rafa was down and out, yet he proved he has the courage to make a run for the opening Grand Slam title of the year. His physical struggles are likely to continue throughout the process and could be further exposed against a more experienced opponent.

They won't come much tougher than Smyczek, though, who deserves recognition for putting up the game of his life. Nadal only added to concerns surrounding his fitness with the win, but nobody can question the heart of a player who can use his victory as motivation along the path to finding his best form.

Nadal will next face world No. 106 Dudi Sela of Israel in the third round. He won't have to deal with the pesky Lukas Rosol, who shocked Nadal at Wimbledon in 2012, since he fell to Sela in four sets.