Rafael Nadal and Ashley Barty cruise to 3rd round of Australian Open

Melbourne: In Australian open tennis tournament, Rafael Nadal put on a clinical performance to ease past German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-2,6-3, 6-4 and reach the third round today. The Spaniard remained on course for a men's record 21st Grand Slam title.

The only former champion now left in the men's draw at Melbourne Park, Nadal is tied on 20 majors with Swiss Roger Federer and world number one Novak Djokovic, who are both absent from the



tournament.

 

In women's singles, Ashley Barty cruised into the third round of the Australian Open for the sixth time of her career with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 win over Lucia Bronzetti.

The home favourite took just 52 minutes to beat the Italian qualifier and will now face No 30 seed Camila Giorgi in the third round as the Australian bids to win the Melbourne Slam for the first time.