Nadal looking for results - not just to overcome Federer

The 21-year-old Spaniard hammered France's Florent Serra 6-0 6-2 6-2 in 94 minutes in his second-round match at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, putting a patchy first-round effort against Viktor Troicki behind him.

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He was joined in the final 32 by other seeds Mikhail Youzhny, Gilles Simon, Jarkko Niemenen, Ivo Karlovic and Paul-Henri Mathieu - as well as impressive Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the world number 38 who knocked out British hope Andy Murray on day one.

But there was an early exit for number 11 seed Tommy Robredo, trounced by last year's quarter-finalist Mardy Fish in straight sets, as well as number 26 seed Stanislaus Wawrinka - who withdrew when down two-sets-to-one against France's Marc Gicquel.

Nadal's form was the most impressive aspect of the day so far, the athletic Spaniard giving the world number 88 a lesson. But despite his excellent form and the possibility that a slip-up from Federer could provide him with a chance to grab the world number one spot for the first time, Nadal is not worried about his ranking.

"I know Roger has gone 15 Grand Slams without losing before the semi-finals. I've never won a Grand Slam apart from on clay.

"I'd love to win any one of them. If it's this year, even better," he said.

Nadal insists he is not frustrated by his failure to reach the number ranking yet.

"It's not frustrating. I'm very happy to be number two - and I would love to be number two for the next hundred years," he said.

"It's a very good position, especially with my point positions. It's very good to be number two, isn't it?

"I'm very happy to be here - very happy about my last three seasons - and I will try my best to be in the top position this season, too," he said.

Nadal, who next plays number 28 seed Simon, saw only the tail end of Federer's round-one demolition of Argentina's Diego Hartfield - but that was enough to know that the two-time defending champion is in top form.

"I saw him with confidence, hitting the ball well and playing very well - not much different there," he said.

Number 14 seed Youzhny ended Andreas Seppi's tournament, 4-6 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7/4); Niemenen, seeded 24, easily accounted for American Jesse Levine 6-3 7-5 7-6 (7/2); Karlovic got past Israel's Dudi Sela 6-7 (7/5) 6-4 6-3 6-1, and Simon and Mathieu continued a strong week for the French with wins over Rainer Schuttler and Paul Capdeville respectively.