TENNIS: NADAL, FEDERER, MURRAY SECURES PASSAGE INTO AUSTRALIAN OPEN SECOND ROUND

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer enjoyed safe passages to round two of the Australian Open. 

Nadal's potentially tricky test against Bernard Tomic ended when Tomic retired a set down, while Federer swept James Duckworth aside in straight sets. 


Nadal had been handed a tough draw against Australian Tomic, the world number 57 who was once as high as 27.

However, after taking the first set 6-4, Nadal was granted a path to the second round when Tomic retired to boos from some sections of the crowd.
 
Federer, meanwhile, chasing a fifth Australian Open title, broke Duckworth once in each of the first two sets to take the sting out of any challenge from the 21-year-old, before easing through the third set despite the heat. 

It was the sixth seed's first competitive match since six-time Grand Slam champion Stefan Edberg joined his coaching set-up. 

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Argentine, Juan Martin Del Potro also made the second round, but 13th seed John Isner went out.

On a day when temperatures reached 42C, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki also went through. 

Britain's Andy Murray made the ideal start to his Australian Open campaign with a quick win over Japan's Go Soeda in searing heat.

On a day that saw the temperature exceed 40C, the Wimbledon champion spent just 87 minutes securing a place in round two with a 6-1 6-1 6-3 victory.

Source: BBC SPORTS