Australian Open, Day 3 updates: Nadal, Sharapova survive scares, Federer through

18.30 IST Nadal prevails in five set thriller against Smyczek Rafael Nadal dropped to his knees, clasping his hands tightly and appearing to be on the verge of tears as he celebrated a win at the Australian Open. [caption id=“attachment_2057801” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his second round match against Tim Smyczek during day three of the 2015 Australian Open. Getty[/caption] The 14-time Grand Slam champion has played some epic matches on Rod Laver Arena, including an almost six-hour final. This was a comeback second-round win over U.S. qualifier Tim Smyczek, a player ranked No. 112 who had never beaten a top 10 player. But the 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-5 win Wednesday was a breakthrough of sorts for the third-seeded Nadal, who came into the first major of the season after playing just four tournaments since Wimbledon due to a right wrist injury and appendix surgery. At the end of the third game of the third set, Nadal called for assistance and was given medication for stomach pain. At times in the match he was doubled over in pain, seemingly on the verge of sickness or exhaustion. Yet he pulled through, earning the only break of the fifth set in the 11th game and then serving it out — after wasting three match points — in 4 hours, 12 minutes. 16.45 IST Nadal bounces back to take the 4th set 6-3. It all comes down to the last set now. 16.24 IST Nadal in troble Rafael Nadal is in trouble as he trails two sets to one against Smyczek 6-2, 3-6, 6-7. 15.18 IST William sisters withdraw from doubles at Australian Open [caption id=“attachment_2056959” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of Venus Williams (L) and Serena Williams. Getty[/caption] Serena and Venus Williams have pulled out of women’s doubles at the Australian Open, where they’ve won four titles. The Williams sisters were scheduled to play their first-round match Wednesday against Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain and Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan. A tournament official confirmed the Williams sisters had withdrawn, but did not specify a reason. Both sisters won their first-round singles matches in singles on Tuesday. 15.09 pm IST Bouchard wins easily in Australian Open’s second round Eugenie Bouchard’s strong record in Grand Slam tournaments continued at the Australian Open on Wednesday when she beat Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-0, 6-3 to advance to the third round. The seventh-seeded Bouchard won the match in 54 minutes. Two of Bertens’ three game wins came on breaks of Bouchard’s serve, including when the Canadian was first serving for the match. After advancing to the semifinals last year in her first appearance at Melbourne Park, Bouchard improved to 7-1 in Australia. The losing finalist at last year’s Wimbledon tournament, Bouchard has 25 wins and seven losses in majors. She is playing in just her eighth Grand Slam event. 12.15 am IST Federer fights back to beat Bolelli Swiss second seed Roger Federer overcame the loss of the opening set to beat Italian Simone Bolelli and reach the third round at the Australian Open on Wednesday. Federer, chasing his fifth Australian Open title, won 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in 2hr 9min and will next play either Jeremy Chardy or Andreas Seppi. 10 am IST Murray overpowers Matosevic, through to third round of Australian Open British sixth seed Andy Murray cruised into the third round of the Australian Open with a straight sets win over local hope Marinko Matosevic on Wednesday. Murray had few problems in carving out a 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 win in 1hr 42min on Margaret Court Arena and will next face either Joao Sousa or 32nd seed Martin Klizan. Andy Murray didn’t let the parochial crowds in Margaret Court Arena bother him Wednesday as he beat Australian Marinko Matosevic 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the third round of the Australian Open. Matosevic’s first-round opponent, Alexander Kudryavtsev, accused boisterous Australian fans of behaving like “animals” after losing in five sets to the Melbourne resident. Murray, who is good friends with Matosevic, beat the Australian in the second round of last year’s French Open and at this year’s Hopman Cup, both times in straight sets. After the match, Murray said with a laugh, “It was a fun atmosphere to play today. Even if not everyone was supporting me.” [caption id=“attachment_2056805” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Maria Sharapova reacts to a point in her second round match against Alexandra Panova. Getty[/caption] Sharapova survives scare against Panova Second seed Maria Sharapova survived a massive scare against Russian qualifier Alexandra Panova to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Monday. Five-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova saved two match points against her unseeded compatriot before staging an epic comeback to win 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. 9.30 am IST Berdych thumps Melzer in straight sets Seventh-seeded Tomas Berdych advanced to the third round of the Australian Open with a 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-2 win over Austrian qualifier Jurgen Melzer. [caption id=“attachment_2056749” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Tomas Berdych plays a backhand in his second round match against Jurgen Melzer. Getty[/caption] Berdych, a Wimbledon finalist in 2010, lost to eventual champion Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals last year at Melbourne Park, where he has reached the quarterfinals or better ever since 2011. Ekaterina Makarova beats Roberta Vinci, Peng Shuai overcomes Magdalena Rybarikova In early women’s second-round matches, No. 10 Ekaterina Makarova beat Roberta Vinci 6-2, 6-4, No. 21 Peng Shuai had a 6-1, 6-1 win over Magdalena Rybarikova and Carina Witthoeft beat Christina McHale 6-3, 6-0. Agencies