Ferrer battles into third round
David Ferrer was made to work harder than expected but still progressed to the third round of the Australian Open today.
The fourth seed was predicted to brush aside the challenge of American Tim Smyczek, who only earned a place in the main draw following compatriot John Isner's withdrawal through injury, but was instead pushed to four sets.
Spaniard Ferrer eventually came through 6-0 7-5 4-6 6-3 to set up a clash with Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, himself a four-set winner over Japan's Tatsuma Ito.
Fifth seed Tomas Berdych and 10th seed Nicolas Almagro had few alarms in advancing.
Czech Berdych brushed aside Guillaume Rufin 6-2 6-2 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena, while Almagro saw off Spanish countryman Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-4 6-1 6-2.
American Sam Querrey moved through but not in the way he would have wanted after more terrible misfortune for Brian Baker.
Baker led the 20th seed 7-6 (7/2) 1-1 when he trapped his right knee mid-rally and was taken off the court in a wheelchair. His management group later confirmed he had torn his lateral meniscus and would be out for up to four months.
It is the latest blow for the 27-year-old, who battled his way into the top 100 last year after six years out with a collection of injuries.
Querrey said: "He's the last person that deserves anything like that with his five or six surgeries already.
"He does everything right, treats his body great trying to come back and then something like that happens. It's just so unlucky."
