Maria Sharapova sneaked into the third round of the Australian Open, racing through the first set in 26 minutes but falling into a 4-1 hole in the third.
Maria Sharapova sneaked into the third round of the Australian Open, racing through the first set in 26 minutes but falling into a 4-1 hole in the third.Credit…Barbara Walton/European Pressphoto Agency
MELBOURNE, Australia — His knees, back, wrist and appendix have all failed Rafael Nadal recently. On Wednesday, his stomach joined the list of ailments, but he gutted out a five-set victory, 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-5, to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
Nadal seemed fine in the first set, racing to a 4-1 lead over Tim Smyczek, a journeyman from Milwaukee who has never beaten a top player. But then he showed signs of sickness, bending at the waist and seeming to vomit on the court. His serve lost its zip, his groundstrokes their pop and his movements their blur.
“I felt very tired,” Nadal, who is seeded third, said. “I don’t know, at end of the first set, I start to feel my body very bad. I was sweating like crazy.”
Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.
