The Belgian, who won the Australian Open in 2004 and made this year's tournament as a wildcard, said she didn't think she would ever experience emotions like that again. She next plays 27th seed Alisa Kleybanova with a potential quarter-final looming against fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters, who was given a thorough examination by Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn. Clijsters, also on the comeback trail after a break to start a family, triumphed 6-3, 6-3, but it was harder than the score suggested for the 15th seed.
Her serve was broken in each set before she dug deep to win. "Physically, I feel good," she said. Spanish second seed Nadal was in rip-roaring form as he smashed hapless Slovak Lukas Lacko 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 to stay on track for a potential last eight meeting with Andy Murray. The Scotsman also looked ominous form with a flawless 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 mauling of Frenchman Marc Gicquel. Fourth seed Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina was given a huge scare by American James Blake.
The US Open champion battled for over four hours before winning a titanic five-setter to reach the third round 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 5-7, 6-3, 10-8. Other top names also showing their credentials included Dinara Safina, Andy Roddick and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Safina, the second seed who was beaten in the final last year by Serena Williams, posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over the Czech Republic's Barbora Zahlavova Strycova but struggled.
She made nine more unforced errors (40 to 31) than her 57th-ranked opponent and had problems with her serve, facing multiple break points each time. Unlike the high-profile Clijsters and Henin, Russian third seed Kuznetsova is flying under the radar and looked impressive in her 6-2, 6-2 defeat of countrywoman Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The French Open champion said she had prepared well in the off-season and was ready to make an impact.
Danish fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki downed Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4, 6-2 while Belarussian seventh seed Victoria Azarenka blasted her way past France's Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-2, 6-0. The American seventh seed had just served out a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory when he continued to argue over a Hawk Eye video review decision which narrowly went against him on the first of his two match points.
He later apologised. Scotland's Andy Murray notched another impressive win at the Australian Open on Wednesday, advancing to the third round with his second straight sets victory in as many matches. The man charged with ending Britain's 74-year Grand Slam drought in men's tennis disposed of 57th-ranked Frenchman Marc Gicquel in ruthless fashion in one hour and 50 minutes, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. Murray was particularly happy with his first set form in tricky conditions due to a swirling breeze on the outside court, and pleased that he was able to resist Gicquel's comeback.
Results of day three:
Results from day three of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park here Wednesday (x denotes seeding):
Men's singles (2nd round) Marin Cilic (CRO x14) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Fernando Gonzalez (CHI x11) bt Marsel Ilhan (TUR) 6-3, 6-4, 7-5; Andy Roddick (USA x7) bt Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Evgeny Korolev (KAZ) bt Tomas Berdych (CZE x21) 6-4, 6-4, 7-5; Rafael Nadal (ESP x2) bt Lukas Lacko (SVK) 6-2, 6-2, 6-2; Feliciano Lopez (ESP) bt Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x19) bt Igor Kunitysn (RUS) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; John Isner (USA x33) bt Louk Sorenson (IRL) 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5; Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER x27) bt Wayne Odesnik (USA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Ivan Ljubicic (CRO x24) bt Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3; Florian Mayer (GER) bt Viktor Troicki (SRB x29) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2), 6-1; Gael Monfils (FRA x12) bt Antonio Veic (CRO) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4; Andy Murray (GBR x5) bt Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-1, 6-4, 6-3; Ivo Karlovic (CRO) bt Julian Benneteau (FRA) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3; Juan Martin Del Potro (ESP x4) bt James Blake (USA) 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 5-7, 6-3, 10-8; Florent Serra (FRA) bt Jarkko Niemenen (FIN) 3-6, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5.
Women's singles (1st round)Li Na (CHN x16) bt Marina Erakovic (NZL) 6-2, 6-0; Vera Zvonareva (RUS x9) bt Kristina Kucova (SVK) 6-2, 6-0 ; Victoria Azarenka (BLR x7) bt Stephanie Cohen-Aloro (FRA) 6-2, 6-0; Agnes Szavay (HUN) bt Stephanie Dubois (CAN) 6-3, 6-2; Iveta Benesova (CZE) bt Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) 7-5, 6-2; Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) bt Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) 6-4, 6-2; Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x4) bt Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) 6-4, 6-2; Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) bt Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 6-4, 6-4; Julia Goerges (GER) bt Tamira Paszek (AUT) 6-0, 3-6, 6-3; Tathiana Garbin (ITA) bt Elena Vesnina (RUS x28) 7-6 (7/5), 6-4; Shahar Peer (ISR x29) bt Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-1; Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) bt Jarmila Groth (AUS) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; Daniela Hantuchova (SVK x22) bt Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5; Stefanie Voegele (SUI) bt Melinda Czink (HUN) 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 9-7.
2nd round Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS x3) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 6-2, 6-2; Elena Baltacha (GBR) bt Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR x30) 6-2, 7-5; Kim Clijsters (BEL x15) bt Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) 6-3 6-3; Marion Bartoli (FRA x11) bt Sandra Zahlavova (CZE) 6-4, 6-4; Zheng Jie (CHN) bt Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP x24) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3; Nadia Petrova (RUS x19) bt Kaia Kanepi (EST) 6-4, 6-4; Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) bt Flavia Pennetta (ITA x12) 7-6 (7-2), 6-1; Maria Kirilenko (RUS) bt Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) 6-3, 6-1; Angelique Kerber (GER) bt Aravane Rezai (FRA x26) 6-2, 6-3; Sara Errani (ITA) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-2, 6-3; Alona Bondarenko (UKR x31) bt Polona Hercog (SLO) 6-4, 7-5; Dinara Safina (RUS x2) bt Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 6-3, 6-4; Alisa Kleybanova (RUS x27) bt Sorana Cirstea (ROM) 6-4, 6-3; Jelena Jankovic (SRB x8) bt Katie O'Brien (GBR) 6-2, 6-2; Roberta Vinci (ITA) bt Vania King (USA) 7-6 (9/7), 7-5; Justine Henin (BEL) bt Elena Dementieva (RUS x5) 7-5, 7-6 (8/6).