Roddick retires, Djokovic advances

Lleyton Hewitt continues his run at the Australian open with a win against rival Andy Roddick, after the American retired after winning the 1^st set.  His movement was hampered due to an injury which meant he could not carry on in front of the Rod Laver Arena; the score finished at 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 ret.  Another upset developed when the Serb Victor Troicki losing in 5 sets to Kukushkin of Kazakhstan, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. 

Novak Djokovic fared better than his compatriot easing into the 3^rd round with the loss of just 5 games.  Andy Murray also went through comfortably winning 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.   Number 5 seed David Ferrer had to battle his way through against Ryan Sweeting eventually winning 6-7(4), 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. 

Top seeds had to battle hard in the women’s game too with Kvitova beating Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.  Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams both went through in straight sets with Sharapova looking incredibly dominant over both of her opponents so far. 

Easy Pickings for top 4 seeds in Paris

The top seeds have hit Paris today, all dispatching their opponents in 2 straightforward sets. 

Andy Murray bt Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-4

Roger Federer bt Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-3

Novak Djokovic bt Ivan Dodig 6-4, 6-3

David Ferrer bt Nicholas Mahut 6-4, 6-4

They all had convincing wins to progress into the 3^rd round and never faced any real pressure.  Murray suited the court as the French have made the surface incredibly slow compared to last year; this has played into the hands of Murray as it will make it very difficult for his opponents to get the ball past him.  Novak Djokovic made easy progress into the 3^rd round but he did not have to play his best against Dodig which is just as well as it he did not have to push his shoulder as hard as he will against the top players.  Andy Murray’s next match will be against the American, Andy Roddick.