Australian Open: Rafael Nadal - on cloud nine into the duel against Karen Khachanov
The first real touchstoneawaits Rafael Nadal in the third round of the Australian Open with Karen Khachanov. The memories of the previous duels with the Russian should make the fifth in the world rankings confident.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Jan 20, 2022, 04:15 pm
Rafael Nadal has not yet been challenged in the tennis year 2022: The Mallorcan was clearly superior to his opponents both in the preparatory tournament in Melbourne and in the two previous duels at the Australian Open, so Nadal has not yet had to give up a set in the current season.
However, it is quite possible that this situation will change in the third round: Because with Karen Khachanov, an established top 30 player and former Masters 1000 champion (Paris-Bercy 2018) is waiting for the 35-year-old on Friday. The Russian has been in good form in Melbourne so far and only lost the first set of his first-round encounter against Denis Kudla.
Khachanov already with 36 aces
Against the American and also in the second round against the French Benjamin Bonzi, Khachanov was particularly convincing with his serve, and the 25-year-old has already had 36 aces in total. The fact that the game will be played in the night session should also speak for Khachanov given the slower conditions.
However, Nadal is not only literally on cloud nine in the duel with Khachanov because of his flawless start to the season. Each of the previous seven games against the Russians went to the Spaniard, who also won all seven tie-breaks played. The set balance: 16: 1 for Nadal.
Tight game at the US Open
The only set he has won so far was Khachanov in 2018 in the third round of the US Open. 7: 5, 5: 7, 6: 7 (7) and 6: 7 (3) after more than four hours of play from the Russian point of view. A match that Khachanov could well have won.
In any case, Nadal showed himself in front of the world number 30. warned: "I have to improve a few things to stay in the tournament. (...) Now it's time to take a step forward. Otherwise it will be impossible."
Here is the men's individual tableau
laver arena