Australian Open 2012 live stream

Popular Chilean Fernando Gonzalez overcame a fighting Marsel Ilhan on Day 3 to enter the third round of Australian Open 2010.

Although winning in straight sets, 6-3 6-4 7-5, the 2007 finalist was made to work for the win by the Turkish No.1, who simply didn’t have the weapons to hurt Gonzalez when it counted.
 
The 11th seed’s trademark forehand was the difference, allowing him to maintain control of the contest despite committing 20 more unforced errors than his opponent. The 154th-ranked Ilhan scrambled gamely throughout, but failed to land a decisive blow. After an inconsistent first set, Gonzalez closed out the second with consecutive aces, having been handed the crucial break through an unforced error from Ilhan.

The match was played out on front of a boisterous crowd, with masses of parochial Turkish and Chilean fans exchanging regular and good-natured banter in between their support for the men on court.

After losing in the final round of qualifying, Ilhan was the beneficiary of Gilles Simon’s withdrawal from the main draw with injury, awarded a place as a lucky loser. He proved in the first round that he was more than capable of causing some damage, disposing of former world No.4 Sebastien Grosjean.
 
Each point of the third set saw an increase in volume, as Ilhan rode a wave of support to push Gonzalez. However, the charismatic Chilean was able to maintain his cool, breaking Ilhan in the 11th game before a pair of aces sealed his berth in the next round.
 
Gonzalez said he enjoyed playing in front of the strong Chilean and Turkish crowd.
“It was really fun, like a Davis Cup atmosphere,” he said.

“I’m really happy to play here always. I come with great expectation for my fans.”
He and these fans will be counting on the form he displayed in 2007, when he rode a wave of support all the way to the final, which he lost to Roger Federer.

“I have great memories … the best tennis of my career was here a few years ago, so I always expect to play at that level,” he said.

Gonzalez now faces Evgeny Korolev after the world No. 53 upset 21st seed Tomas Berdych in straight sets on Wednesday.