Rafa Nadal coach accepts ‘if you have to make a change’ – Aus Open Day 4 updates

Rafael Nadal's coach and uncle Toni Nadal hasn't ruled out the possibility that the 14-time grand slam champion may seek a new or expanded coaching team in a bid to arrest his slide in form.

Nadal lost in the first round of a grand slam for just the second time in his career to fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open on Tuesday.

“I understand that in sport results come first and if you have to make a change, you have to do it,” Toni Nadal told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope on Wednesday.

“To lose so early in Australia is one of the biggest disappointments we have had because in the last four months we had been playing well.

“I hope it is only a blip and we move forward.”

The 29-year-old failed to win a major for the first time in 10 years in 2015 leading commentators such as seven-time grand slam champion John McEnroe to call for Nadal to seek fresh ideas away from Toni, who has coached him for his whole career.

Nadal admitted after the defeat to Verdasco that the new brand of aggressive tennis on the ATP tour was more difficult for him to handle.

“Everybody hits the ball hard and try to go for the winners in any position,” he said.

“The game has become a little bit more crazy in this aspect.”

And Toni admitted it is difficult for his nephew to change style after so much success throughout his career.

“The strategy he has played with his whole life matters less now. It isn’t easy to change style after 15 years.”

On the court

Verdasco, who beat fellow Spaniard Nadal in the first round, is out of the Australian Open in the second.

The veteran lefthander was beaten on Thursday 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Thursday by Dudi Sela of Israel.

His win over Nadal took 4 hours, 41 minutes and may have left the 32-year-old Verdasco lacking in energy for Thursday’s match.

Verdasco double-faulted twice in a row in the tiebreaker to put Sela within two points of victory, then netted a backhand to end the match.

Sela will next play either Jeremy Chardy or Andrey Kuznetsov.

Andy Murray meanwhile made dealing with the world's biggest serve look easy as he reached the Australian Open third round alongside Ana Ivanovic, who was shaken by an elderly spectator's courtside fall.

Murray, faced with the world record-breaking serve of the physically imposing Sam Groth, had all the answers as he won 6-0, 6-4, 6-1 in just 91 minutes against the flummoxed Australian.

Earlier, Ivanovic went through 6-3, 6-3 against Anastasija Sevastova in a match which was held up for 30 minutes when a fan was badly injured by a fall on some steps inside Rod Laver Arena.

“I felt really bad. I was really shaking, because the sound of the lady falling was really loud. I could hear it,” said Ivanovic, who looked on anxiously as the patron received treatment.

Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka was the most impressive of the women’s winners when she hammered Danka Kovinic 6-1, 6-2 to reach the third round for the loss of just three games in total.

“I think I’m feeling in the best shape body-wise, spirit-wise, everything-wise,” said Azarenka, who has recovered from injury and a bout of depression following her split with musician Redfoo.

Progression was less smooth for world No 3 Garbine Muguruza, who struggled through an error-strewn first set against Kirsten Flipkens before finding her touch and winning 6-4, 6-2.

“I’m extremely happy because Kirsten is a very difficult opponent who has a unique game,” said the 22-year-old Spaniard. “Every match is very tough and I am just happy to be here.”

Australia’s Groth clocked the fastest serve on record, 263 kilometres (163 miles) per hour, in 2012 but he was picked off by Murray’s redoubtable defence and intelligent choice of shots.

One significant match statistic was that Murray served more aces than 67th-ranked Groth 10-6, while breaking the Australian’s powerful serve seven times.

“It’s really impossible to say if it’s the best (I’ve) played,” Murray said, adding: “It’s been a very good start, for sure. But I can still get better, I think.”

Johanna Konta joined her fellow Briton in the third round when she beat China’s Zheng Saisai 6-2, 6-3 – only the third time she has made it so far at a grand slam tournament.

Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka, 18, continued her stunning progress at her debut grand slam tournament when she beat Ukrainian 18th seed Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4 to reach the last 32.

But there was heartbreak for Serbian former world No 1 Jelena Jankovic, the 19th seed who went crashing out 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to 97th-ranked German Laura Siegemund.

And Milos Raonic beat Tommy Robredo in unusual fashion when he secured victory with the only service break of the match – after nearly three hours of play, and in the very last game.

The big-serving Canadian finally broke Robredo’s serve at the 12th attempt and in the 36th game to win it 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 and reach the third round after 2 hours 55 minutes.

Renowned marathon man John Isner needed two tiebreakers before putting away Spaniard Marcel Granollers.

The beanpole American 10th seed, who is expected to lead the United States in their Davis Cup tie in Australia in March, won 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/2) in 2 hours 20 minutes.

Isner is well remembered for his 2010 Wimbledon defeat of Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, winning 70-68 in the fifth set in a first round match that lasted just over 11 hours – with a final set of 8 hours 11 minutes.