Match Report
Spanish 18-year-old Rafael Nadal has fought back from two-sets-to-one and match point down to overpower No.15 seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-1 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3 in the opening match of Day Four on Rod Laver Arena.
Youzhny, who reached the third-round at Melbourne Park in 2001 and 2002 and the fourth-round in 2003, had a match point on Nadal's serve at 4-5 in the third set, but the Spaniard held serve and immediately gained the vital break that allowed him to force a deciding fifth set.
Nadal's win, in three hours 37 minutes, takes him to the third-round for the second year in a row where he'l meet American qualifier Boby Reynolds, a straight-sets winner over No.17 seed Andrei Pavel of Romania.
Match Facts:
The sets lasted 25, 52, 43, 59 and 38 minutes, respectively
Nadal hit 29 winners, Youzhny 55
Nadal ade 33 unforced errors, Youzhny 57
Youzhny served 9 aces and 5 double faults, Nadal no aces and 2 double faults
Nadal put 71% of his first serves into play, Youzhny 52%
Nadal won 153 points, Youzhny 140
Nadal converted 9 of 14 break point chances, Youzhny 6 of 14
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