Sharapova survives in heat
(Reuters)Updated: 2007-01-17 09:16 BETTER CONDITIONS
"I was tired from the first point. It's not tennis any more, it's who is going to last longest in the sun," said Tipsarevic.
Rafael Nadal had the fortune to play under a closed roof and proved he had done his homework as he blunted American Robert Kendrick's challenge with a 7-6 6-3 6-2 win.
The second seed had to claw back from two sets down the last time the duo met, at Wimbledon in 2006, but on Tuesday he maintained control throughout.
"Wimbledon was a great match but today it was unbelievably hot and the court was a bit slower so the conditions were better for me," the Spaniard said.
Hewitt was lucky to keep alive Australia's chances of ending their search for a first home-grown men's champion since 1976. He fought tooth-and-nail for a 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-3 6-3 win over American qualifier Michael Russell.
Hewitt's former fiancee Kim Clijsters showed there was no room for sentiment as she began her final fling at the tournament before retiring later this year.
A clubbing forehand ended a 44-minute, 6-0 6-0 ordeal for hapless Russian teenager Vasilisa Bardina.
Andy Murray almost mimicked Clijsters's ruthless streak when he humiliated Spain's Alberto Martin 6-0 6-0 6-1.
The 15th-seeded Scot won the first 17 games before Martin stole a consolation game, leaving Murray to just miss out on the first grand slam triple bagel since 1993.
Martina Hingis was almost as emphatic in a 6-0 6-2 win over Nathalie Dechy.
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