Australian Open Day 4: Fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro dumped out as heat creates mayhem

Fifth seed and one of the pre-tournament favorites Juan Martin Del Potro was on the end of the biggest shock of this year’s Australian Open when losing 4-6 6-3 5-7 6-4 7-5 to Roberto Bautista in the second round. Play at the Australian Open was called to a halt for more than four hours with temperatures at Melbourne Park hitting 43.3 degrees Celsius after the organizers enacted the third stage of their "Extreme Heat Policy". Later in the day lightning and thunder then hit Melbourne with play suspended once again on the outside courts as weather played havoc with the schedule of play.

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal comprehensibly beat Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia 6-2 6-4 6-2 while Roger Federer also advanced to the next round defeating Blaz Kavcic 6-2 6-1 7-6(4). Also joining the two legends in the next round is Andy Murray who outclassed Vincent Millot 6-2 6-2 7-5. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advanced to the third round courtesy of a 7-6(6) 6-4 6-4 win over Thomaz Bellucci while other seeded players like Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov and Gael Monfils also advanced to the next round.

In the Women’s section, Victoria Azarenka marched into the third round with a 6-1 6-4 win over Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova to stay on course for a hat-trick of titles at Melbourne Park. But it was not an easy ride for the third seed Maria Sharapova as she overcame the dogged resistance of Karin Knapp and the unforgiving heat to advance to the next round by th scoreline 6-3 4-6 10-8. Dane Caroline Wozniacki survived a scare from American Christina McHale to record a 6-0 1-6 6-2 victory and move into the third round and fifth seed Agniezska Radwanska easily overcame Olga Govortsova to reach the next round There were also victories for Jelena Jankovic, Simona Halep and Sloane Stevens.