Nadal, Clijsters stay on course

Top seed Rafael Nadal brushed off qualifier Ryan Sweeting Thursday to stay on course for a historic Grand Slam sweep, as women's favourite Kim Clijsters also sped into the Australian Open third round.

Nadal, just hours after rival Roger Federer was taken to five gripping sets by France's Gilles Simon, was made to sweat only by the hot sun on Rod Laver Arena as he dispatched America's Sweeting 6-2, 6-1, 6-1. Belgium's Clijsters also dropped her first games of the tournament - after a jaw-dropping 6-0, 6-0 whitewash of Dinara Safina in the first round - as she easily dispatched Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-3.

MELBOURNE, AFP