Lukas Lacko must have discovered that giving a bagel to Rafael Nadal is easier than breaking Roger Federer’s serve. He, like many before him, could not find any rhythm and even taking a game looked an achievement. There was no place for frustration on his face since defeat was already there. His fight back started in the third set when the feeling gets in that there is nothing more to lose. Relaxation sets in the mind and huge swings start finding the target. Lacko broke Federer to level the third set. This was only as far has he could go. But that also is a sufficient achievement. The score line 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 is not an unfamiliar score line in Federer’s matches.
Gael Monfils - Thiemme De Bakker match lived upto expectations. Bakker could not serve the match out in straight sets when opportunity presented itself and lost in five, 7-6, 6-2, 5-7, 2-6, 1-6. It was not that Gael Monfils started playing at a great level, but Bakker could not keep his mind composed. He is only twenty two. He will climb up to top twenty sooner than later. It is only such experience that makes a player strong. Gael Monfils should also find this experience useful for the next few rounds. He has to recover physically to live upto the expectations as the highest ranked French player.
Nikolai Davydenko has perished 3-6, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6. Florian Mayer had a good outing in Medibank International at Sydney, but few would have expected him to oust Nikolai in a Grand Slam. Can Florian Mayer develop into a late bloomer like Jurgen Melzer, Radek Stepanek, Jarkko Nieminen, Jonas Bjorkman. He certainly has the potential.
Players are fighting not only the heat and humidity, but the notorious five setters at Melbourne. More of that later.
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