Rocket-heeled Rafa Nadal's [ Images ] bid for a fourth consecutive Grand Slam gained pace on Thursday with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 demolition of hapless American qualifier Ryan Sweeting at the Australian Open [ Images ].

Darting around a sun-drenched Rod Laver Arena in a salmon-coloured shirt, the nine-times Grand Slam champion charged out of the blocks with a service break and rarely missed a beat in a 102-minute romp into the third round.

Nadal had been denied a full first-round workout when his Brazilian opponent Marcos Daniel retired hurt and was not forced to work that much harder against Sweeting, who was left flat-footed on the baseline as missiles flew into the corners.

The Spaniard will next meet compatriot Feliciano Lopez [ Images ] or teenaged local hope Bernard Tomic as he bids to become the first man to hold all four major crowns concurrently since Rod Laver in 1969.