Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer have all made it through their third round ties at the Australian Open in Melbourne. There was a shock in the women’s tournament, however, as former world number one Caroline Wozniacki went out to unseeded opposition.
Nadal has advanced with a straight sets win against Frenchman Gael Monfils in the heat of Melbourne. The Spaniard took the match with a score line of 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, although the contest was somewhat closer than the lopsided score suggests.
Andy Murray has also made it through his third round tie, against 36th seed Feliciano Lopez. The Scot enjoyed a relatively straightforward passage, winning 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 6-2.
This is just the second tournament Murray has competed in since a back operation, and although expectations of his capability were muted so soon after such a procedure the winning of his first three games in convincing fashion has offered signs that his recovery has gone well. Murray admitted to some stiffness but offered a positive assessment, saying: "I've recovered well after the matches.
"From time to time there's a bit of stiffness and soreness, but for the most part it's been good.
"You normally are going to get some stiffness in an area where you've had surgery. It takes a bit of time for that to go away," he told the BBC.
Roger Federer beat Teymuraz Gabashvili in straight sets, winning 6-2 6-2 6-3.
Wozniacki, the number 10 seed, came unstuck in the face of the challenge from unseeded Spaniard Gurbine Muguruza, losing 4-6 7-5 6-3.
