Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer both secured their progression through to the fourth round of the Australian open with comfortable victories.
Second seed Nadal today sent the last qualifier spinning out with a comfortable 6-2 6-4 6-2 win over Slovakian Lukas Lacko.
Nadal wrapped up victory in an hour and 55 minutes in overcast conditions at rod laver arena and conserving valuable energy for the wars of attrition to come in later rounds.
Meanwhile world number three, Federer was given just the workout he needed after getting a walkover when he beat the big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 7-5 6-3 on rod laver arena to advance to the fourth round.
The third-seeded Swiss had easily accounted for Russian qualifier Alexander Kudryavtsev in 98 minutes in the first round then had a walkover in the second following Andreas beck’s withdrawal with a lower back injury.
