Tennis-Near-miss against Nadal no heartbreak for gallant Smyczek

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, Jan 21 (Reuters) - One of the best matches of Tim Smyczek's career ended in a five-set defeat by Rafa Nadal at the Australian Open on Wednesday but the American qualifier will head back to the second-tier Challenger tour with renewed faith. Smyczek exited Rod Laver Arena with a warm ovation from the packed terraces, having pushed a sick Nadal to the wall before succumbing 6-2 3-6 6-7(2) 6-3 7-5 in a second round thriller lasting four hours and 12 minutes. The 27-year-old