Australian Open Day Four Singles Review
Posted on January 18, 2007 - Filed Under Australian Open, Tennis | Leave a Comment
The first Grand Slam of the year underway in Australian saw the seeds have a mixed affair on day four. James Blake led the way for those who had a pretty straight forward stuff with a 6-4 6-1 6-2 win over compatriot Alex Kuznetsov. Third seeded Russian Nikolay Davidenko and eight seed David Nalbandian also registered easy straight set wins. I must confess that it is surely a surprise that Nalbandian won in straight sets given his reputation of being a marathon specialist. He beat Nicholas Lapentti of Ecuador 6-4 6-4 6-4. Elsewhere, home favorite Lleyton Hewitt continued to struggle but nevertheless kept his title hopes alive with a 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-4 win over Canadian Fran Dancevic.
Rafael Nadal survived a third set scare to see of German Challenger Philipp Kohlschreiber in four sets. The German showed plenty of grit and character against his much fancied Spanish opponent but in the end Rafa prevailed with his brut power and ground strokes. Andy Murray kept the British hopes alive with a scratchy 7-6 7-5 6-4 win over Fernando Verdasco. Finnish 17th seed Jarkko Nieminen was the men’s seed to have fallen to have fallen on day four when he lost to Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela. Chilean Fernando Gonzalez and Sebastein Grosjean were stretched to five sets before they prevailed in their respective encounters.
In the women’s singles the top seeds didn’t have much to bother as both Kim Clisters and Maria Sharapova brushed aside their opponents with relative ease. Martina Hingis also made her way into the third round with a smashing performance. Patty Schnyder was made to stretch a in the first set but prevailed over her Chinese opponent 7-5 6-3. Home favorite Alicia Keys was meanwhile taken to three sets by Kaia Kanepi but the Aussie came back from a set down to win. 15th Daniela Hanchucova also prevailed in three sets over French woman Emilie Loit.
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