Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray Dominate Aussie Open

25-01-2009 21:58

The end of the first week at the 200 Australian Open may be over but the tournament’s big four still find themselves very much in contention to scoop the first Grand Slam of the new season.

The third round was brought to a close by world number one and top seed Rafael Nadal as he swept past Germany’s Tommy Haas 6-4 6-2 6-2 with another impressive victory that sees him yet to drop a set.

2008 was a great year for the Spaniard as he secured his fourth consecutive French Open title and a first Wimbledon crown as well as gold at the Beijing Olympics and toppling Federer from the number one spot.

However the year ended on a low for the twenty two year old as he was forced to miss the Davis Cup final due to injury. However the extra time off seems to have worked in his favour as Nadal has possibly been the most impressive of the top four players as he hopes to reach the Australian Open final for the first time.

Also looking in fine four is Great Britain’s Andy Murray but, despite being many’s favourite to win the title after his US Open final last year, he finds himself seeded only fourth. Behind Nadal Federer and defending champion Djokovic.

Murray’s third round encounter saw him take on Austrian Jurgen Melzer, that man that almost beat him at last year’s US Open and it was expected to be the first test for the Briton.

However Murray cruised to en emphatic victory 7-5 6-0 6-3 to set up a fourth round tie with up and coming Spaniard and number fourteenth seed Fernando Verdasco.

And while Murray may have a winning record against Verdasco since the twenty five year old clinched the decisive rubber for Spain in the Davis Cup his confidence has soared and overcame Stepanek 6-4 6-0 6-0.

2008 was a below par year for Roger Federer, by his own very high standards, despite winning the US Open and being a runner up at the French Open and Wimbledon. As well as losing his number one ranking to Rafael Nadal Federer began the tournament with a point to prove.

Despite opening the tournament in fine style, which included a second round straight sets win over Marat Safin, Federer face a five set thriller against Tomas Berdych which saw him lose the first two sets.

But the number two seed fought back to eventually beat the twenty three year old Czech 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-4 6-2 and he was the first of the big four to make it through to the quarter final stage.

After venting his anger at Murray being named favourite over himself number three seed and defending champion Novak Djokovich also hasn’t had it all his own way.