Nadal Steps Past Haas, Del Potro in Straights Over Kavcic January 18, 2012 By Tennis Panorama News MELBOURNE PARK, Australia – World No. 2 Rafael Nadal kept his record perfect against Tommy Haas topping the German 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday at the Australian Open. “I don’t know if it’s the perfect match, but I won in three sets,” said Nadal I started match playing fantastic , especially the first seven games. Nadal was a little worried in the first set, “when he had the break point at 5‑4 with the first set? Yes. No, I had a mistake with the 5‑2, big mistake with one forehand in one deuce. ” I was a little bit unlucky at that game with the 5‑4. I had 30‑love. After I had breakpoint again, but I was lucky that I had two aces in a row. And a third one in the set point, Tommy had the fantastic serve, too, and forehand winner. “So I end the set well. I started the second set very well another time. Second set was, I can say, comfortable for me, because I had the break at the beginning. I didn’t suffer a lot with my serve, and I had the second break with the 5‑3. “So it’s important, the break, I had a very bad game in the beginning of the third. After that, you know, the set is in trouble. If you don’t have the break back next game, you will be fighting all the set to try to come back, no? Finally I did. “I think he played well. He played aggressive. He played with very good second serves. For a moments his first serve was really difficult to read. Yeah, I think he played well. My way has to be the seven first games of the match.” Nadal spoke to media about how is game is right now. “I really practiced well. I had very good preparation in my opinion. I practiced very well. I won already two matches in straight sets with positive feeling. I am well.” “You never know. (Smiling.) We are in the first week, and, you know, every match will be difficult. Next one will be not be an exception.” Nadal will next face the winner of Lukas Lacko versus Donald Young. Juan Martin del Potro advanced to the third round with a straight sets win over Blaz Kavcic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. “I think I play much better than my first match, and Kavcic is very dangerous and very faster,” said Del Potro. “So I know I should play 100% like today. I feel confidence with my forehand basically. So it’s important to play safely all the game and play in confidence every time.” Next up for the Argentine is Yen-Hsun Lu. Karen Pestaina for Tennis Panorama News