Nadal can stand the heat

Second seed Rafael Nadal expressed his satisfaction at the ‘ease’ of his 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-2 win over American Robert Kendrick.

The first set lasted an epic 58 minutes in the searing heat in Melbourne before the Spaniard sealed victory in two hours and seven minutes.

Nadal was a fitness doubt with a thigh injury prior to the tournament but looked comfortable as he set up a second-round meeting with either Kristof Vliegen or Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Kendrick took Nadal to five sets at Wimbledon last year but after saving a set point in the opening tie-break Nadal took command and won without ever dropping serve.

The match on Rod Laver Arena was played under a closed roof after officials implemented the extreme heat policy for the first time, meaning play on outside courts was suspended as the temperature rose at Melbourne Park.

“It is a good start for me,” said Nadal.

“I had a very difficult first set and it was important for me to win the tie-break. After that the match changed and it was easy.”

Referring to his encounter with Kendrick on the grass at the All England Club last summer Nadal said: “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.

“I played a serious match so that’s enough.”

Nadal also allayed fears over his fitness by saying: “I didn’t feel anything so I am 100% fine.”

David Nalbandian progressed to the second round after opponent Janko Tipsarevic was forced to retire.

Nalbandian, the number eight seed, looked to be heading for an early exit after losing the opening two sets 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 and was trailing 5-2 in the third but fought back to clinch the set 7-6 (7-2) and won the next 6-0 with his opponent finally pulling out at 1-2 in the decider.

“I was in the plane back home,” admitted the 2002 Wimbledon finalist when asked for his thoughts in the third set.

“It was very difficult. I was two sets down and 5-2 double break. I wasn’t playing very good.”

Alan Mackin’s Australian Open adventure was ended by Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti, who claimed a 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory.

The British number eight had progressed through three qualifying rounds to reach the first round proper for the first time but struggled against the 1999 semi-finalist.

Mackin dropped just one set in victories over Davide Sanguinetti, Alex Bogomolov Jr and Federico Luzzi but struggled with the conditions.

“I’ve never played in heat like that before,” he said.

“I made a lot of unforced errors today. I was getting tired out there after the second set.

“It’s been a good experience. Just qualifying has been good for my confidence.”

Thirteenth seed Tomas Berdych also booked his place in the second round with a comfortable 6-1 6-2 6-2 victory over Hyung-Taik Lee, while Sebastien Grosjean progressed after opponent Christophe Rochus was forced to retire and American Robby Ginepri beat Nicolas Almagro 4-6 6-2 6-4 7-5 6-3.