Australian Open 2011: Rafael Nadal in 3rd Round after Beating Ryan Sweeting

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(Jan. 20, 2011) Rafael Nadal of Spain took down American qualifier Ryan Sweeting in a straight three set, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 victory to move on to the third round of the Australian Open.

Though the world-ranked No. 1 player was affected with a virus earlier this month in Qatar causing him to be off his game, he was clearly back to his full health today, needing only a little over 90 minutes to cruise past Sweeting. Breaking the No. 116-ranked player twice to take the opening set in 29 minutes, sealing the set with a 130-mph ace.

Without losing a game, Nadal was able to deliver 36 winners and eight breaks of serve against an unprepared Sweeting. In the second set, which lasted only 38 minutes, Nadal fired three aces and won 68 percent of the points on his first serve. Despite their one-year age difference, it was clear that Nadal's seven major victories gave him an advantage against his younger opponent.

Showing signs of weakness only once, Sweeting, who beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain in the opening rounds, got his only break points in the fifth game of the final set when he was able to break Nadal's service. However, it was the Spaniard who overcame in the end, breaking for the eighth time in the next game leading to his win. 

Continuing on in his attempt to hold all four titles at once, an honor only achieved by Don Budge and Rod Laver, Nadal faces Gold Coast native Bernard Tomic. 

The Australian teen is no stranger to pressure, having passed on the qualifying rounds for entrance in the tournament to wait for a wild-card spot that, briefly, seemed as if it wouldn't come. Tonight, Tomic was able to prove why he deserves to be in a major tournament. Facing Feliciano Lopez of Spain, the 18-year-old was able to come out of the matchup with a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6(7-3) 6-3 victory.

Already making history as the youngest man, and only Australian left, in the men's singles draw, Tomic admitted to the press that facing Nadal is actually an accomplishment that he's happy to achieve. “You can’t ask for anything else…to play Rafa is a dream come true for me.”

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