Wiping the slate clean
On weather-beaten day, Rafa & Kyrgios battle to reach Rd 3
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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.
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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.
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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
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