Nadal advances after tight first set

RAFAEL NADAL was one point away from losing the first set before rallying to take command of his first-round match with American Robert Kendrick to move into the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

The first set was decided 8-6 in a tiebreaker after which the second seed upped the tempo and closed out the remaining sets 6-3 6-2.

In other matches, American James Blake, in a repeat of last week’s Medibank International final in Sydney, proved too good for Spaniard Carlos Moya as he charged to a 7-6 (10-8) 6-2 6-4 win.