Things heat up Down Under

Top-seeded Maria Sharapova got another taste of the elements, ignoring the saunalike conditions in Rod Laver Arena to advance to the second week of the Australian Open.

While heavy rain prevented play on outside courts, the roof on center court was closed today for Sharapova’s 6-3, 6-1 third-round victory over 30th-seeded Tathiana Garbin.

The air conditioning wasn’t working early and the players were already sweating profusely after their warmup, while spectators fanned themselves with programs.

“It was a little steamy in there ... humid,” Sharapova said. “I’ve felt cozier in my life.”

It was slightly cooler for three-time Australian champion Martina Hingis, who needed only 62 minutes to beat Aiko Nakamura, 6-2, 6-1.

Eighth-seeded David Nalbandian went the distance in an almost four-hour match, saving three match points in the third set of a 5-7, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-1 win over Sebastien Grosjean.

The 2002 Wimbledon finalist from Argentina was a point from a third-round exit at 0-40 and 4-5, but held on and forced a tiebreaker, then dominated the rest of the match.

Nalbandian also rallied from two sets down to win his opening match against Janko Tipsarevic, who wasted his chance to serve for the match in the third set before retiring with heat exhaustion in the fifth.

Nalbandian’s first match was one of the few being played when Sharapova was on court for her opener against Camille Pin on the second day -- most matches were suspended because of the Extreme Heat Policy as temperatures topped 100 degrees.

Sharapova said the conditions were almost inhuman that day, and made her delusional as she wasted a 5-0 lead in the third set before saving the match.

“I guess I can say I’m still lucky to be in the tournament after my first round,” she said. “It is only going to get tougher for me.”

It wasn’t too tough in the third round today for second-seeded Rafael Nadal, who rolled over Stanislas Wawrinka, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Sixth-seeded Andy Roddick had to be sure his coach Jimmy Connors didn’t fly all the way to Melbourne for nothing Friday.

Connors was uncertain if he’d join Roddick for the Australian Open after his mother and longtime coach, Gloria, died this month.

The eight-time major winner decided to make the long trip -- his first to Melbourne since losing in 1975 -- for Roddick’s 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) third-round win over 2005 champion Marat Safin.

“We’ve been thinking a lot about Jimmy in the last couple of weeks, so for him to be here in the flesh, we’re really happy,” Roddick said. “For him to go through what he’s been going through, to hop a flight and show up this morning and stay up, he’s still in the locker room chugging along.”