Tennis:Rafael Nadal reflected on a "complete match" after beating Lukas Lacko in the third round of the Australian Open. The world number two was pushed early on by the Slovakian qualifier, but upped his game and Lacko was powerless to stave off a 6-2 6-4 6-2 defeat in just under two hours.
"It was a really complete match, a really solid one. I'm very happy about my game," said Nadal, who has made untroubled progress into the last 16. "Being in the fourth round without losing a set, it's fantastic news."
Lacko looked Nadal's equal in the opening exchanges, trading blows with the 10-time grand slam champion, but he could not maintain it and Nadal took full advantage to cruise through.
The world 119 dropped his serve in the opening game but then hit back with some powerful shots to level the scores. But once Nadal seized Lacko's serve to establish a 3-2 advantage and then broke again for 5-2, the tone for the rest of the match had been set.
An early break in the second set maintained Nadal's momentum and two more in the third wrapped up what ultimately was a routine win for the Spaniard.
"I am playing well and if you are playing well, things can be a little bit less difficult," Nadal said. "If you are playing bad, every match will be very, very difficult. I have done well, played all three matches at a very good level. Today was one of the best, solid, without mistakes, comfortable with the serve, having good returns.
"I played solid all match."
Roger Federerfollowed Nadal onto Rod Laver Arena and promptly followed him into round four, although he was made to work hard by giant Croatian Ivo Karlovicbefore sealing a 7-6 (8/6) 7-5 6-3 success.
Karlovic, at 6ft 10in, posed the Swiss the usual conundrum of how to break his formidable serve. And for almost two sets, Federer failed to find the answer.
Indeed, having taken the first set to a tie-break, Karlovic set up a set point at 6-5 only for the world number three to produce a bit of magic to reach a mis-hit volley, which just dropped over the net, and clip a clever lob over his towering opponent.
A wonderful backhand return then handed Federer a set point of his own and he made no mistake to edge in front.
Karlovic threatened again at 1-1 in the second on break point but Federer served his way out of danger.
It took Federer, the winner of a record 16 grand slam titles, until the 25th game of the match to create a break point of his own, and when he did it was a set point.
Karlovic saved the first but there was no denying Federer second time around as a Karlovic volley under pressure drifted long.
It looked a long road back for the Croatian and although he saved three break points at 0-1 in the third, he could not repeat the feat when Federer threatened again at 1-2.
Home favourite
Bernard Tomic
battled through to a meeting with Federer after outlasting
Alexandr Dolgopolov
4-6 7-6 (7/0) 7-6 (8/6) 2-6 6-3.
The Ukrainian had the edge early on in an absorbing match which featured two players with an unconventional style. But the match swung the Australian's way in two tie-breaks and although Dolgopolov hit back to take it all the way Tomic proved the more consistent in the decider.
Tomas Berdychhas advanced to the fourth round by beating Kevin Anderson7-6 7-6 6-1 in two hours and 27 minutes.
Berdych, ranked 7th in the world, took the first set after a tense tie break, before being forced into another in the second set.
South Africa's Anderson could not keep up his serve in the third set, however, as Berdych managed to break early on.
The Czech star took the third and final set with relative ease, serving out the match with a 6-1 set.
"So far I would say that I'm still not [at] the perfect level or the level that I ended the season last year," admitted Berdych. "I still have [room] for improvement, which is good."
Berdych will next meet Spanish 10th seed Nicolas Almagro, who beat Swiss 21st seed Stanislas Wawrinka7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-4.
Almagro converted six breaks of serve to defeat the number 21 seed for the first time since the 2007 Heineken Open in Auckland.
Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potroovercame Taiwan's Lu Yen-hsunto book his place in the fourth round.
The Argentinian world number 11 beat Lu 6-2 6-3 6-0 to equal his best grand slam performance since lifting the US title in 2009.
Del Potro comfortably powered past the 79th-ranked Lu, who shocked David Nalbandian in Melbourne in 2009 and claimed Andy Murray's scalp at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Philipp Kohlschreiberreached the round of 16 for the third time after he defeated Alejandro Fallaof Colombia 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-3).
The German was effective when he came forward, winning 24 of his 29 net approaches. He broke Falla five times to claim the win in two hours and 18 minutes.