Rafael Nadal sweeps past Ryan Sweeting to maintain Slam hopes

RAFAEL Nadal progressed smoothly through to the third round of the Australian Open yesterday as his dream of completing the 'Rafa Slam' remained alive.

Nadal, who is bidding to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four grand slam titles simultaneously, was far too strong for American Ryan Sweeting with No 4 seed Robin Soderling also moving into the last 32 later in the day.

World No 1 Nadal cruised home 6-2 6-1 6-1 in one hour and 42 minutes and will next meet rising Australian star Bernard Tomic, who stunned 31st seed Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 on Hisense Arena.

Soderling beat Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 6-3 7-6 (7/1) 6-1 to reach the third round at the event for the first time.

Michael Llodra fell early on day four, the Frenchman losing 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 7-6 (7/4) to Milos Raonic of Canada but David Ferrer, Mikhail Youzhny, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marin Cilic all progressed. David Nalbandian, the conqueror of Lleyton Hewitt so memorably on Tuesday, exited tamely. The Argentinian, seeded 27, was 6-1 6-0 2-0 down to Lithuania's Richard Birankis when he defaulted.

Juan Martin Del Potro's return to grand slam tennis after a serious wrist injury ended as he was beaten 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-3 by Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.