On Tennis
By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY
MELBOURNE, Australia — In darker moments for Roger Federer, a loss like Friday’s, to Andreas Seppi, could have restarted the doomsday chatter that Federer likes just about as much as a certain Spanish left-hander’s forehand.
But Federer, 33, has won too often in recent months and even recent weeks for any reasonable tennis observer to take a surprise third-round defeat at the Australian Open as confirmation that the end should be nigh.
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Nadal was on the verge of elimination Wednesday in the second round as he battled stomach pain, dizziness and cramps before prevailing in five sets against Tim Smyczek, an American qualifier. But Nadal was back doing leaps at the net for the coin toss against Dudi Sela on Friday and went on to win, 6-1, 6-0, 7-5.
He was not always thoroughly convincing, but there were the usual forehand winners in abundance and a perfect seven break points saved out of seven faced. In an on-court interview afterward, the former Australian Open champion Jim Courier pressed Nadal to give a percentage on how he felt physically.
Nadal rubbed his hand through his hair. “I was never very good at mathematics,” he said, grinning and taking his leave.
But unlike Federer, his longtime rival, he was not soon going to be heading for the airport.
