Nalbandian muscles way past Lapentti

MELBOURNE, Jan 18 (Reuters) David Nalbandian eased past Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti 6-4 6-4 6-4 to secure a berth in the third round of the Australian Open today.

The Argentine eighth seed, a semi-finalist last year, looked much improved from his first match when he progressed after opponent Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia, who had two match points, retired due to heat exhaustion.

Nalbandian's muscular play from the back of the court was too much for the former Melbourne Park quarter-finalist, and he sealed the match with a punched forehand winner in an hour and 56 minutes.

He now awaits the winner of the match between France's Sebastien Grosjean and Belgian Olivier Rochus.

REUTERS PM KP1348