France slumped, Spain scintillating

France, a country that represented the player with the greatest number at Melbourne Park, got the worst result for 19 years at the Australian Open. With 14 players the power of the sons and daughters of seven players, none of which escaped from the third round.

The last two players failed to step into the fourth round was the 2008 finalist Alize Cornet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. In a match that took place Saturday (22/1/11), losing to Kim Clijsters Cornet, while Tsonga removed Alexandr Dolgopolov.

"Every day I try to get back on top form after injury for several months," said Tsonga who suffered injuries in 2010.

In addition to Tsonga, another French player who also had been in the top 10 new world and struggling with the injury is Gilles Simon. Simon lost in the second round of Roger Federer even capable of forcing the defending champions to play five sets.

Hope another French team, namely Richard Gasquet defeated Tomas Berdych, Gael Monfils while Stanislas Wawrinka removed. Both lost in the third round.

In the daughter, Marion Bartoli and Virginie Razzano only able to survive until the second half with 17-year-old tennis player Caroline Garcia.Terakhir time France did not have a single player in the fourth round occurred in 1992, when Alexia Dechaume lost in the third round.

Unlike France, Spain dominated the men's singles, at least until the third round ended. Of the 13 players, five of them will appear in the fourth round which will begin on Sunday (23/1/11). They are the top-seeded Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer (7), Fernando Verdasco (9), Nicolas Almagro (14), and Tommy Robredo.

To fight a ticket into the quarter-finals, Nadal will fight against Marin Cilic (Croatia), while Ferrer against Milos Raonic (Canada). In other matches, Verdasco will face a tough challenge from Czech tennis player who is also the sixth seed, which is Berdych. Also challenges to be faced Almagro who will face third seed Novak Djokovic, while Robredo challenge Federer.