John Pye

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Rafael Nadal sat in his hotel room in "unbelievable pain," his right knee cracking and his leg cramping. He wondered if he'd be able to play his first-round match at the Australian Open.

He already had plenty on his mind going into the year's first Grand Slam tournament. There was his ailing shoulder and his spat with Roger Federer over player conditions on the tour, a rare clash between these respectful rivals that has since been smoothed over.

After hours of medical tests and treatment, Nadal decided to play but was "scared" when he took the court against American qualifier Alex Kuznetsov. Judging by the scoreline, the outcome looked very matter of fact: Nadal won 6-4, 6-1, 6-1, but it was anything but that for the 2009 Australian Open champion.

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Rafael Nadal pounded another up-and-comer into submission. Andy Murray made quick work of his second-round opponent as well.

And Kim Clijsters just wants everyone to know she's not pregnant again. She brought up the subject herself -- right there on the stadium court before an interviewer -- and swatted down the misguided chatter with great delight as if putting away an opponent with overhead.

Clijsters has already quit tennis once to get married and have a child, only to return after 2 1/2 years and win the 2009 U.S. Open. She comes into the Australian Open after capturing the U.S. Open again last year and is fast emerging as the favorite in a draw missing injured defending champion Serena Williams.