TENNIS/Australian Open Championships:Martina Hingis used to regard the Australian Open as her own private property, winning the title three times between 1997 and 1999, and making six consecutive finals. Even when she began her comeback last year she made it to the last eight, and her love affair with the city continues, this time enhanced by her engagement to the men's top 20 player, Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.
"This year it's a different kind of pressure. Last year every match was a big win, whereas this time everybody expects me to get to the quarters. And I definitely expect that from myself," she said.
In the second round she defeated Alla Kudryavtseva, yet another promising young Russian, making her main draw debut, 6-2, 6-2.
"Before the match I didn't really know how to pronounce her name. Now I do," said Hingis.
Hingis is seeded to meet Kim Clijsters, playing her last year on the tour, in the quarter-finals. Both of them are rattling through their early matches, the Belgian winning her second-round match 6-3, 6-0 against Akiko Morigami of Japan. "Like Martina I've always enjoyed coming to Australia but there is something special this time. You appreciate things so much more when it's the last time. It's a good feeling," said Clijsters.
She and Hingis joked with each other when they returned to the locker room in double quick time after their opening matches.
"I think we won at around the same time, and we started laughing. Martina said: 'Damn, you beat me'."
Clijsters, still only 23 years old, has already been asked if she, like Hingis, might one day return to competitive tennis after she calls it a day at the end of the year.
"I haven't retired yet, and we're already talking about a comeback. I'll have to say 'No comment' to that question."
Hingis, who was absent for three years, certainly has no regrets. Even though the five-times slam champion has yet to get beyond the last eight of a major since her return, she remains positive.
"I am looking forward to what this year may bring. I'm just trying to improve, only this year I'm more confident. My private life is balanced and I'm happy. Radek and I can both focus on our games and not have to worry about anything else. We support each other."
Despite them being good friends, Hingis said she had not spoken to Clijsters about her decision to retire.
"She knows the best for herself, and if we play each other here it would be great."
Meanwhile, their little private race continues unabated.
Maria Sharapova, the top seed, made up for her exhausting opening victory with a 6-0, 6-3 drubbing of fellow Russian Anastassia Rodionova. Sharapova, who was within two points of defeat by the Frenchwoman Camille Pin in searing midday heat on Tuesday, looked much more comfortable on a cooler evening and clinched victory in 58 minutes.
The world number two said she felt fully recovered from her gruelling three-hour opener which she won 9-7 in the final set.
"I'm definitely recovered from it, I feel good physically," she said. "I played a little bit better today but still nowhere near my top level and I think I can get better as I play more matches here. I just rested a lot before this match, stayed inside and drank. I wanted to finish it in two sets today.
"I think when it gets to a certain point where it's extreme heat, players should probably stop. Even if there is a 20-minute delay, I think that's why the roof's there. Heat is one of the most dangerous things for players."
Guardian Service
Meanwhile the men's second seed Rafael Nadal ground down German Philipp Kohlschreiber to come through a testing second-round clash 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-2. Nadal was forced to work extremely hard by the 23-year-old world number 61 in a pulsating night match at Rod Laver Arena, finally sealing victory after three and a half hours at 1.30am local time.
"I am happy with this match, he was a very tough player and was returning very aggressively," Nadal said. "It was a very good test for me. First set I played very good tennis and I finished the match feeling very good physically."
Nadal played down two incidents when he was struck on the thumb and then forced to take evasive action when Kohlschreiber directed fierce forehands at him as he approached the net.
Nadal, seeking his first Australian Open title and third grand slam tournament, made an early break in the first set but Kohlschreiber slugged it out toe to toe with the Spaniard, fighting back to 5-5 and earning a break point to lead 6-5.
MEN'S SINGLES
SECOND ROUND: (12) Tommy Haas (Ger) bt Ilia Bozoljac (Ser) 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 6-3, Robby Ginepri (USA) bt Mischa Zverev (Ger) 6-4 7-5 6-1, (13) Tomas Berdych (Cze) bt Robert Smeets (Aus) 6-3 6-2 6-4, Juan Ignacio Chela (Arg) bt (17) Jarkko Nieminen (Fin) 6-3 2-6 6-4 6-4, (31) Stanislas Wawrinka (Swi) bt Paul Capdeville (Chi) 6-4 6-3 6-2, (2) Rafael Nadal (Spa) bt Phillip Kohlschreiber (Ger) 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-2, (10) Fernando Gonzalez (Chi) bt Juan Martin Del Potro (Arg) 7-6 (9-7) 4-6 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 4-0 ret, (28) Sebastien Grosjean (Fra) bt Olivier Rochus (Bel) 4-6 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4, Fabrice Santoro (Fra) bt Arnaud Clement (Fra) 6-2 6-4 6-4, (3) Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) bt Gilles Muller (Lux) 6-4 6-0 6-3, Florian Mayer (Ger) bt Andreas Seppi (Ita) 5-7 7-5 6-2 6-2, (15) Andrew Murray (Brit) bt Fernando Verdasco (Spa) 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 6-4, (8) David Nalbandian (Arg) bt Nicolas Lapentti (Ecu) 6-4 6-4 6-4, (5) James Blake (USA) bt Alex Kuznetsov (USA) 6-4 6-1 6-2, (21) Dmitry Tursunov (Rus) bt Max Mirnyi (Blr) 6-2 6-3 7-6 (7-4), (19) Lleyton Hewitt (Aus) bt Frank Dancevic (Can) 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-4.
WOMEN'S SINGLES
SECOND ROUND: (22) Vera Zvonareva (Rus) bt Tamira Paszek (Aut) 6-1 6-3, (13) Ana Ivanovic (Ser) bt Agnieska Radwanska (Pol) 6-2 3-6 6-2, (30) Tathiana Garbin (Ita) bt Renata Voracova (Cze) 6-1 7-5, (19) Na Li (Chn) bt Lourdes Dominguez Lino (Spa) 6-0 6-2, (4) Kim Clijsters (Bel) bt Akiko Morigami (Jpn) 6-3 6-0, (9) Dinara Safina (Rus) bt Youlia Fedossova (Fra) 6-3 6-2, (29) Alona Bondarenko (Ukr) bt Virginie Razzano (Fra) 6-3 5-4, Alicia Molik (Aus) bt Kaia Kanepi (Est) 1-6 6-3 6-2, Aiko Nakamura (Jpn) bt Sania Mirza (Ind) 6-3 6-2, (15) Daniela Hantuchova (Svk) bt Emilie Loit (Fra) 4-6 6-3 6-4, (8) Patty Schnyder (Swi) bt Shuai Peng (Chn) 7-5 6-3, Ashley Harkleroad (USA) bt (17) Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Ger) 6-2 6-2, (12) Anna Chakvetadze (Rus) bt Laura Granville (USA) 6-2 5-7 6-1, Jelena Kostanic (Cro) bt (24) Samantha Stosur (Aus) 6-4 2-6 6-2, (6) Martina Hingis (Swi) bt Alla Kudryavtseva (Rus) 6-2 6-2, (1) Maria Sharapova (Rus) bt Anastassia Rodionova (Rus) 6-0 6-3.
Nadal held firm, however, to hold his serve and after leading the next game 40-0 he clinched the first set on his third break point when Kohlschreiber netted a forehand to end a long baseline rally.
