Australian Open now live: Alex de Minaur challenges Rafael Nadal in the Betway Match of the Day on Servus TV
Rafael Nadal is aiming for the round of 16 at the Australian Open 2019. Opponent in the “Betway Match of the Day” (from 9:00 am CET, in our live ticker and in the stream and TV on Eurosport and in Austria on Servus TV) will be local hero Alex de Minaur.
by tennisnet
last edit: Jan 18, 2019, 09:02 am
Actually, Alex de Minaur can tick off the 2019 tennis year positively: The victory at the Sydney home tournament, which literally laid de Minaur flat, was a highlight that will hardly be topped. Good: A success against Rafael Nadal in the third round of the Australian Open 2019 (Friday from 9:00 a.m. in our live ticker) could add another layer to Sydney.
The chances of that? Not very well. Apart from the starting point that the number two of the tournament competes against the number 27. De Minaur had to work really hard twice, especially against Henri Laaksonen, when he almost lost a two-set lead. Nadal, on the other hand, was able to play against James Duckworth and Matthew Ebden without fear and pain.
Nadal has won only once in Melbourne
And although de Minaur is the greatest hope of the Australians, the 17-time major champion from Spain will not be intimidated by a backdrop that is benevolent to his opponent.
# BETWAY #
Nadal has won in Melbourne, the Australian Open, so to speak, a small weak point in the glorious Grand Slam record of the Mallorcan. Before the tournament started, the question marks behind Nadal's health were once again big, especially after his later cancellation in Brisbane. It was a little thing on the thigh, the more sensitive regions in Nadal's body were not affected. The big test is still pending.
At the 2018 US Open, he already proved that Alex de Minaur can play with the very best: he had Marin Cilic on the verge of defeat. But only marginally.