MELBOURNE, Jan 22: Unseasonal and relentless rain played havoc on Day 5 of the Australian Open tennis tournament, with play not getting underway on any outside courts during the day session here on Friday.
Despite the delays, play did resume on time under roofs of the three main courts, with Japan�s Kei Nishikori the first to advance undercover at Margaret Court Arena.
The seventh seed shook off a willing challenge from Spain�s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who dominated Nishikori in the second set. However, Japan�s No.1 player managed to regain the upper hand in the third and fourth sets, winning 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Nishikori told the press later he had to shake off his niggling wrist injury to take control in the third set.
�I had (the injury) two years ago. Maybe it has come back a little bit, but it should be okay for the next match,� Nishikori said.
�I have to give credit to (Garcia-Lopez), he was hitting hard, really flat balls that were tough to play. I tried to dictate a little more, step in and use more forehands, and I think it was working.�
On the women�s side of the draw, fifth seed Maria Sharapova flexed her muscles in a three-set win against America�s Lauren Davis.
Sharapova squandered an opportunity to wrap the match up in a second set tiebreak, but stepped up a gear in the third to eventually win 6-1, 6-7, 6-0.
The win means the 2008 Australian Open winner sets up a fourth round showdown with Swiss young gun Belinda Bencic. The Russian player said Bencic was an �inspired player� who was rising up the ranks quickly.
�It�s going to be a tough one,� Sharapova said after the match.
�She�s been playing incredibly well, especially last season. I�m just going to do everything I can to win.� � IANS
