By Erik Gudris / Thursday, January 16, 2014

 

Despite the extreme heat policy being in effect, it was no sweat for both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer who both advanced into the third round in Melbourne.

Photo Credit: Getty

Though the stifling heat of Melbourne is still on, it didn't bother either Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer who both advanced into the third round of the Australian Open.

With the tournament enforcing its extreme heat policy to deal with the near 110 plus degree conditions in the daytime, both Nadal and Federer played their matches under the roofs of both Rod Laver and Hisense Arenas.

Nadal took on yet another young Australian in Thanasi Kokkinakis. Though Kokkinakis served as a practice partner for the world No. 1 at Roland Garros last year, the Aussie couldn't draw much on that experience to help him.

Nadal was simply too much for the No. 570 ranked Kokkinakis as the top seed posted a comfortable 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win.

Federer faced off against Slovenia's Blaz Kavcic on Hisense Arena. After racing through the opening two sets, Federer was made to work in the third as his opponent forced a tiebreak. But in the end, it was Federer who posted a 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(4) win.

It was the 70th career victory for Federer in Melbourne.

Other earlier winners included Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Kei Nishikori and Donald Young. Young, whose match against No. 24 seed Andreas Seppi was suspended before a fifth set due to the heat, went on to win 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.