Australian Open: Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray Advance To 3rd Round

Rafael Nadal (left) and Andy Murray. (AP)

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal advanced to the third round at the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis on Thursday.

Nadal won the match in 1 hour, 53 minutes and was rarely troubled under the roof at Rod Laver Arena, where temperatures hit 109 Fahrenheit earlier in the day and forced organizers to suspend matches on outer courts.

Last year Nadal missed the Australian Open due to a seven-month absence from the tour with injuries and illness. He returned later in the season to win 10 titles and regain the No. 1 ranking.

On Thursday, three-time Australian Open finalist Andy Murray won the last 23 consecutive points to come from 5-1 down in the third set for a 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 second-round win over French qualifier Vincent Millot.

Murray, the reigning Wimbledon champion, has never lost an ATP-level match to a player ranked outside the top 200. Millot is ranked No. 267 and was playing in just his third Grand Slam event.

Murray was the finalist at Melbourne Park in 2010, 2011 and 2013, losing to Novak Djokovic twice and Roger Federer once.

He is playing his first tournament since minor back surgery in September.

Based on reporting by the Associated Press.