World No 1 Rafael Nadal and last year's finalist Andy Murray eased into the Australian Open second round on the back of injury retirements yesterday
World No 1 Rafael Nadal and last year's finalist Andy Murray eased into the Australian Open second round on the back of injury retirements yesterday.
Nadal advanced after Marcos Daniel retired during the second set with a knee injury, while Murray got through when Karol Beck succumbed to shoulder trouble while trailing in the third set.
Spanish top seed Nadal, bidding for his fourth straight major title to complete a non-calendar year Grand Slam, was leading 6-0, 5-0 when Brazil's Daniel retired with a painful left knee.
Nadal was only on court for 47 minutes and the nine-time Grand Slam champion sought more work on his service after the injury-shortened match.
"I practised for half-an-hour after the match. Hopefully my serve is going to be fine," he said.
Nadal was sympathetic with Daniel's plight after he was forced out with a knee injury in his quarter-final against Murray at last year's Australian Open.
"He's a really nice guy and I'm really sorry for him," he said of the 93rd-ranked Daniel. "I wish him all the best for the recovery. Hopefully it is nothing really important."
