Martin/Tsonga Make Strong Start In Montpellier Doubles

Fabrice Martin and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made a good start to their first tournament together on Monday in Montpellier. The Frenchmen defeated countrymen Albano Olivetti and Lucas Pouille 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round of the Open Sud de France.

Tsonga has won four ATP Tour doubles titles — all with Frenchmen — including the 2009 Rolex Shanghai Masters crown with Julien Benneteau. Martin is a full-time doubles player who has lifted seven tour-level doubles trophies.

In other Montpellier action, Czech Roman Jebavy and Slovakian Alex Molcan defeated French wild card Robin Bertrand and Antoine Hoang 6-2, 6-2.

Argentines Enjoy Success In Cordoba
Two all-Argentine teams, both wild cards, earned straight-set victories on Monday at the Cordoba Open to advance to the second round.

Juan Pablo Ficovich and Facundo Mena eliminated Chileans Tomas Barrios Vera and Cristian Garin 6-4, 7-5 and Pedro Cachin and Tomas Martin Etcheverry ousted countrymen Federico Coria and Federico Delbonis 6-3, 6-4. 

Top Seeds Advance In Pune
Top seeds Luke Saville and John-Patrick Smith ousted Italian Stefano Travaglia and Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-1, 6-4 to move into the second round of the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune. Saville recently represented Australia at the ATP Cup, where he won two of his three matches alongside John Peers.

Frenchmen Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul also advanced in Pune when they upset third seeds Szymon Walkow and Jan Zielinski of Poland 6-3, 7-6(5).

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Defending Champ Goffin Battles From Brink In Montpellier

David Goffin’s Open Sud de France title defence was in jeopardy on Monday in Montpellier, but the Belgian battled into the second round.

Eighth seed Goffin rallied past Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 in one hour and 53 minutes to improve to 9-3 at the ATP 250. He will play Frenchman Adrian Mannarino or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round.

“The match was a very tough one, especially at the beginning when I was a little bit tight. My groundstrokes were a little bit too slow, a little bit too short,” Goffin said. “It’s never easy when Benjamin is playing like that. He had time to hit some big groundstrokes, big first serves and he’s very aggressive, so it’s never easy. But during the match I stayed positive even though I was one set and one break down.”

[WATCH LIVE 1]

Bonzi led 6-2, 3-0, but was unable to prevent the 2021 champion's comeback. Goffin earned five service breaks in the match.

“I tried to stay focussed, to stay as long as possible on the court to try to get some confidence, to work on certain things: to be more aggressive, [hit] a better quality of ball,” Goffin said. “At the end it was better and better, so I’m really happy the way I played at the end of the second and in the third.

“It’s a good win for me, very important for my confidence. I’m happy to [try to] defend my title and be in the second round.”

Sixth seed Alexander Bublik also moved into the second round with a 7-6(4), 7-6(5) victory against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.

The Kazakhstani’s only previous appearance in Montpellier came two years ago, when he lost against Goffin in the Round of 16. Next up for the 2021 ATP Tour aces leader (840) will be French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert or German Peter Gojowczyk.

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Novak Djokovic will 'come back' but Rafael Nadal backed to go down as 'best ever'

Rafael Nadal secured a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title after victory at the Australian Open on Sunday.

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Five Fun Facts From Nadal's Australian Open Title

Rafael Nadal defeated World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final for his second title at the season's first major.

ATPTour.com looks at five fun facts from the Spaniard's victory Down Under.

It Was Nadal's Record-Breaking 21st Major Title
Nadal broke a tie with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer for the most men's singles major titles in history. Djokovic and Federer are tied in second place with two. This is the first time Nadal has had more Grand Slam titles than Federer.

The Spaniard won his first major trophy at Roland Garros in 2005. He has captured 13 Roland Garros crowns, four US Open titles and two victories each at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Rafa Completed His Second Career Grand Slam
Nadal is just the fourth man in history to win all four major titles multiple times. The lefty joined Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and Djokovic in the elite group. Only Nadal and Djokovic have accomplished the feat in the Open Era.

Separately, Nadal became only one of three men aged 35 or older who have won the Australian Open, joining Federer and Rosewall.

More From 2022 AO Final
Nadal Makes History In Five-Set Classic Against Medvedev
How Rafa Became The Greatest Grand Slam Champion Of All
Nadal Adds To 'Big Titles' Count
Relive The Final In Pictures

It Was His First Two-Set Comeback In More Than 14 Years
When the 35-year-old fell two sets behind Medvedev, a comeback seemed a daunting challenge. Nadal had not rallied from two sets down in more than 14 years. 

Before Sunday, the Spaniard had only done that three times. His most recent two-set comeback was at Wimbledon in 2007 against Mikhail Youzhny. He also did it at Wimbledon in 2006 against Robert Kendrick and in the 2005 Mutua Madrid Open final against Ivan Ljubicic.

^{Photo Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images}
Nadal Has Won Multiple Titles For 18 Consecutive Years
Rafa moved to 10-0 on the 2022 season on Sunday with triumphs at the Melbourne Summer Set and the Australian Open. With those two trophies, he has earned at least two tour-level crowns in 18 consecutive seasons.

Overall, Nadal has lifted 90 tour-level titles in his storied career. The only men who have claimed more in the Open Era are Jimmy Connors (109), Federer (103) and Ivan Lendl (94).

He Has Won Two Five-Setters Against Medvedev In Major Finals
This was not the first time Nadal has clawed past Medvedev in a major final. In the 2019 US Open championship match, the lefty let slip a two-set advantage before steadying himself in the fifth set to capture the crown.

Nadal leads Medvedev 4-1 in their ATP Head2Head series, with all five of their clashes coming on the biggest stages in the sport. Two were in major finals, two at the Nitto ATP Finals, and their first meeting was in the final at the 2019 ATP Masters 1000 event in Canada.

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Del Potro Accepts Wild Cards Into Buenos Aires & Rio de Janeiro

Juan Martin del Potro has accepted a wild card into next week's Argentina Open in Buenos Aires and the Rio Open presented by Claro in Rio de Janeiro the week of 14 February, the tournaments announced on Monday.

The 'Tower of Tandil', who has climbed as high as No. 3 in the ATP Rankings, has not competed since the 2019 cinch Championships in London at the Queen's Club. The Argentine has undergone four right knee surgeries since then.

The 33-year-old Del Potro, currently World No. 757, has not played in the Argentina Open, an ATP 250, since 2006 when he was 17. That year, he lost against former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Del Potro is set to make his debut at the Rio Open presented by Claro, an ATP 500 event. In 2016, the Argentine won the men's singles silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Both the Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro tournaments are held on clay.

 

 

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Daniil Medvedev rubbishes Nadal, Djokovic and Federer claim - 'They were lying'

DANIIL MEDVEDEV lost the Australian Open final to Rafael Nadal, and had something of an axe to grind in the aftermath.

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Novak Djokovic 'sullied' Australian Open as fans left bitterly 'disappointed'

NOVAK DJOKOVIC "sullied" the Australian Open, taking the limelight away from what is meant to be one of tennis' most exciting openers of the year, Express.co.uk was told.

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Rafael Nadal's Australian Open triumph rubbished by two tennis stars due to Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal claimed his 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne yesterday, but his victory has been scrutinised.

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Rafa Nadal has taken giant step towards GOAT status as Djokovic and Federer watch on

RAFAEL NADAL won his 21st Grand Slam on Sunday in a stunning five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev.

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Scouting Report: Thiem Returns In Cordoba; Zverev & Karatsev Headline Fields In Montpellier & Pune

The action on the ATP Tour will be spread across three continents this week, with ATP 250 tournaments taking place in Argentina, France and India.

Dominic Thiem and Diego Schwartzman lead the field at the Cordoba Open, while Alexander Zverev is the top seed at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier. Aslan Karatsev will be targetting his second tour-level title of the season at the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune.

ATPTour.com looks ahead at 15 things to watch this week.

View Draws: Cordoba | Montpellier | Pune

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN CORDOBA
1) Schwartzman Top Seed: Argentine Schwartzman will lead the way as the top seed on home soil in Cordoba, where he reached the final in 2020. The 29-year-old, who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas at the ATP Cup earlier this month, will be making his fourth appearance at the ATP 250 event and starts against countryman Federico Coria or a qualifier.

2) Thiem Returns: Dominic Thiem has not competed at a tour-level event since Mallorca last June due to a wrist injury he sustained while he was in action on the grass in Spain. The former World No. 3 will make his return on the Argentine clay as he makes his debut at the Cordoba Open. The second seed, who has won 10 tour-level titles on this surface, will play Argentine wild card Tomas Martin Etcheverry or a qualifier in the second round.

3) Clay-Court Standouts: With the ATP Tour returning to clay for the first time this year, there are many stars who flourish on the surface relishing the opportunity. Cristian Garin has won five tour-level titles on clay, including in Cordoba in 2020, while Federico Delbonis captured his two trophies at this level on the surface in Sao Paulo in 2014 and Marrakech in 2016. Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas was a finalist at the event last season and has triumphed at three ATP Tour events in his career on clay. All three are in the field this week.

4) Home Favourites: Alongside Schwartzman and Delbonis, there are six other Argentines in the main draw at the Cordoba Open (this does not include potential qualifiers. Sebastian Baez, Facundo Bagnis, Francisco Cerundolo, Federico Coria, Etcheverry and Juan Ignacio Londero will all be targetting deep runs in front of home support. Londero tasted success at the ATP 250 event in 2019, capturing his maiden tour-level crown at the tournament.

5) Sonego To Go Deep? Lorenzo Sonego is the fourth seed in Cordoba and will look to improve on his 2021 performance at the ATP 250 tournament where he reached the second round. However, the Italian, who advanced to the third round at the Australian Open this month, could face a tricky opening test against #NextGenATP Holger Rune of Denmark in his first match if the 18-year-old can overcome Roberto Carballes Baena.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN MONTPELLIER
1) Zverev In Action: Zverev has fond memories in Montpellier, having won the title in his last appearance at the ATP 250 event in 2017. The World No. 3 is the top seed after receiving a wild card and will be aiming to bounce back from the fourth-round defeat he suffered against Denis Shapovalov at the Australian Open. The German will play 27-year-old Ilya Ivashka or American Mackenzie McDonald in his opening match.

2) Home Favourite Monfils: Gael Monfils arrives in Montpellier full of confidence following his strong start to the season. The Frenchman captured his 11th tour-level title at the Adelaide International 1 earlier this month, before he advanced to the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.

The 35-year-old has lifted the trophy in Montpellier three times (2010, 2014, 2020) and will aim to enjoy another deep run on home soil as the third seed. He will begin his campaign against countryman Corentin Moutet or Swede Mikael Ymer.

3) Can Bautista Agut Go One Step Further? Second seed Roberto Bautista Agut advanced to the final at the ATP 250 indoor-hard event without dropping a set last year. The Spaniard has already earned Top 20 wins against Garin, Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz this year at the ATP Cup and will look to maintain his good form against Lucas Pouille or a qualifier in his first match.

4) Field Full Of Past Champions: French pair Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga have lifted the trophy in Montpellier four times between them, with Gasquet triumphing in 2013, 2015 and 2016, while Tsonga was the victor in 2019. The experienced duo begin against seventh seed Ugo Humbert and a qualifier, respectively.

Meanwhile, David Goffin triumphed at the tournament last year. The eighth seed will play Benjamin Bonzi in the first round on Monday.

5) Herbert/Mahut Top Seeds: Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, the reigning Nitto ATP Finals champions, will play their first tournament of the year as a team in Montpellier. The Frenchmen are the top seeds. Mahut lifted the Montpellier trophy in 2012 alongside countryman Edouard Roger-Vasselin. Three-time champion Roger-Vasselin and Israeli Jonathan Erlich, the third seeds, face a tough opening challenge against Zverev and close friend Marcelo Melo.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN PUNE
1) Karatsev Leads The Field: Aslan Karatsev will aim to win his second tour-level title of the season when he competes in Pune for the first time. The Russian, who triumphed at the Sydney Tennis Classic earlier this month, is the top seed and will open against a qualifier in the second round.

2) Is Musetti Ready To Go Deep? #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti will look to continue his good work from last season, where he rose from outside the Top 100 in the ATP Rankings to a career-high No. 57. He also competed in the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. The 19-year-old is the second seed and begins his tournament against Australian Aleksandar Vukic or Frenchman Hugo Grenier.

3) Former Champion Returns: Czech Jiri Vesely clinched his second ATP Tour crown in Pune in 2020, winning three three-set matches en route to the trophy. The fourth seed, who will make his fourth appearance at the hard-court tournament, will face Dennis Novak or Bernabe Zapata Miralles in his first match.

4) First-Time Winner? Third seed Gianluca Mager, fifth seed Daniel Altmaier and sixth seed Emil Ruusuvuori will all be aiming to win their first tour-level title this week in India. The trio has captured 11 ATP Challenger Tour trophies between them, but they have never triumphed at this level.

Mager opens against Indian wild card Arjun Kadhe or Portugal’s Joao Sousa, while Altmaier plays another Indian wild card in the form of Prajnesh Gunneswaran. Ruusuvuori kicks off his campaign against Belarusian Egor Gerasimov.

5) Saville/Smith Top Seeds In Doubles: Luke Saville and John-Patrick Smith are the top seeds in the doubles draw and are teaming for the third time this season. The Australians will face stiff competition from second seeds Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan and third seeds Szymon Walkow and Jan Zielinski. Marc Polmans and Matt Reid are the fourth seeds, with singles stars Musetti (w/Gaio) and Vesely (w/Erler) among those also in doubles action. 

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Nadal Wins 21st Grand Slam To Add To 'Big Titles' Count

Rafael Nadal won a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title on Sunday at the Australian Open, breaking a tie with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer for the most major men's singles trophies in history.

The Spaniard now has 58 'Big Titles', putting him four behind Djokovic (62) and four clear of Roger Federer (54). A 'Big Title' is a trophy at a Grand Slam championship, the Nitto ATP Finals, an ATP Masters 1000 tournament or an Olympic singles gold medal.

The 35-year-old rallied from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 after five hours and 24 minutes. With his second title at Melbourne Park, Nadal is the fourth man in history to capture at least two trophies at all four Slams.

This was Nadal's first victory at a major since Roland Garros in 2020. The legendary lefty missed five months at the end of last season due to a left foot injury.

Djokovic has the best 'Big Titles' win-rate at one title won per 3.3 events played (62/202), while Nadal has claimed a 'Big Title' for every 3.5 tournaments played at this level (58/198). Only two other players have converted more than once per five events: Roger Federer (4.4, 54/240) and Pete Sampras (4.9, 30/147).

Current and Former Champions' Big Titles Won (Records Since 1990)

Player	Grand Slams	Nitto ATP Finals	1000s	Total^ (Avg)
Novak Djokovic	20/65	5/14	36/119	62/202 (3.3)
Rafael Nadal	21/63	0/10	36/123	58/198 (3.4)
Roger Federer	20/80	6/17	28/138	54/240 (4.4)
Pete Sampras	14/52	5/11	11/83	30/147 (4.9)
Andre Agassi	8/61	1/13	17/90	27/164 (6.1)
Andy Murray	3/53	1/8	14/103	20/167 (8.4)
Boris Becker*	2/26	2/6	5/51	9/84 (9.3)
Thomas Muster	1/29	0/4	8/53	9/87 (9.7)
Stefan Edberg**	3/28	0/4	4/45	7/79 (11.3)
Gustavo Kuerten	3/33	1/3	5/67	9/105 (11.6)
Jim Courier	4/38	0/4	5/71	9/114 (12.6)
Marcelo Rios	0/26	0/1	5/56	5/84 (16.8)
Marat Safin	2/41	0/3	5/87	7/133 (19)
Michael Chang***	0/50	0/6	7/86	7/144 (20.6)
Andy Roddick	1/46	0/6	5/75	6/129 (22.5)

^ Includes Olympic Games gold medals and tournament participations
* Becker's four other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
** Edberg's three other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
*** Chang's one Grand Slam title came before 1990

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Relive Nadal's Epic Australian Open Victory In Pictures

Rafael Nadal defeated Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in a thrilling five-hour, 24-minute Australian Open final to earn a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title. ATPTour.com relives the memorable battle through pictures.

^{Photo Credit:AFP/Getty Images}
This was the fifth ATP Head2Head meeting between Nadal and Medvedev. They also clashed in the 2019 US Open final, which Nadal won in five sets.

^{Photo Credit: Graham Denholm/Getty Images}
Medvedev got off to a quick start inside Rod Laver Arena. The World No. 2 made just five unforced errors in the first set to sprint to a 6-2 lead.

^{Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images}
The Russian then clawed through a gruelling 84-minute second set to take a two-set lead. Medvedev was firing on all cylinders. Not only was he more consistent than Nadal, but he used his baseline game to push the Spaniard all over the court. 

Leading 3-2 in the third set, he earned a 0/40 advantage on Nadal's serve. A second consecutive major title was drawing near for the 2021 US Open champion.

^{Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images}
But the crowd was fully behind Nadal throughout. The legendary lefty continued to fight for every point, and the fans helped inspire the 35-year-old to continue looking for ways back into the match.

^{Photo Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images}
Nadal had only come back from two sets down three times in his career, with the most recent instance coming at Wimbledon in 2007 against Mikhail Youzhny. Nevertheless, the World No. 5 raised his level and forced a fourth set.

^{Photo Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images}
Nadal fully seized the momentum from there, firing away with his lethal forehand and stepping into backhands inside the baseline. As Medvedev began to show holes in his game, the Spaniard took full advantage to push the clash into a deciding set. This was the seventh time a Grand Slam final Nadal has contested has gone to a fifth set.

^{Photo Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images}
Despite letting slip his first opportunity to serve out the championship at 5-4 in the fifth set, Nadal immediately broke back to earn another chance. This time, the lefty converted to break a tie with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer for the most men's singles major crowns in history.

^{Photo Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images}
Nadal quickly went to his box to celebrate with his team and family. He shared an emotional moment with his father, Sebastian Nadal.

^{Photo Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images}
This was Nadal's 21st Grand Slam trophy and his 90th tour-level victory overall. The former World No. 1 is now 21-8 in major finals.

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Nadal: 'Biggest Comeback of My Career'

Rafael Nadal has never been one to give up in moments of adversity, but he surprised even himself with his stunning five-set win over Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final on Sunday.

“If we put everything together, the scenario, the momentum, what it means…yeah, [it’s] probably the biggest comeback of my tennis career,” said the Spaniard in his post-match press conference.

The sixth seed rallied from two-sets-to-love down to seal an epic 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory on Rod Laver Arena and become the first man to 21 Grand Slam singles titles.

“At the end history is about the victory, but the way that you win the match in terms of personal feelings is different,” Nadal said. “The way that I achieved this trophy tonight was just unforgettable, one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career, without a doubt. [It] means a lot to me.”

Despite being 0/40 down on his own serve with the Russian up two sets and leading 3-2 in the third set, Nadal said he had nonetheless retained a semblance of belief that he could stay in contention with Medvedev.

“In that moment, of course, the situation was critical,” said Nadal, “but sport is unpredictable. The normal thing is to lose the match in straight sets from that situation. On the other hand, I had a big chance in the second [set] too.

“I was repeating to myself during the whole match, I lost a lot of times here [in Melbourne] having chances, sometimes I was a little bit unlucky. I just wanted to keep believing until the end. I just wanted to give myself a chance.

“That's what I did. Just fight, just keep belief in trying to find a solution. Of course, I was lucky to save that moment. [There were] a lot of moments that can decide the final like this.”

The Spaniard was also full of praise for Medvedev, who won his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open in September. “I think Daniil is a great champion,” said Nadal. “He accepted the loss very well and I can say thanks because it’s a very hard night for him. I know how tough it is to be in that position.”

Nadal acknowledged the significance of winning his 21st Grand Slam title but insisted his title in Melbourne will not suddenly make him view his own career any differently. “It's amazing to achieve another Grand Slam at this moment of my career,” said the Spaniard. “Of course, I know it's a special number, 21. I know what it means, but from my point of view today is an unforgettable day…I feel lucky to achieve one more very special thing in my tennis career.

“I really believe that I hold a very positive spirit. For the last six months, I really fought a lot to try to be back on court…[There] have been very tough moments because you don't know if you’re going to have the chance. I feel honoured.”

It’s been a long journey since a 19-year-old Nadal picked up his first major crown at Roland Garros back in 2005, and he also admitted the feelings around his major victories had changed with age.

“[Today was] more emotional than the first one, no doubt about that,” said Nadal. “At the latter stages of your career, I think you enjoy these moments more because you know the chances are less. When you are 19 of course it is super special, but you know if you are playing well, you're going to keep having chances to enjoy [such] moments.”

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Daniil Medvedev throws doubt on tennis career as he makes Australian Open fans allegation

DANIIL MEDVEDEV was beaten by Rafael Nadal in a thrilling Australian Open final in Melbourne.

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Daniil Medvedev shares Rafael Nadal childhood dream ahead of Australian Open final

DANIIL MEDVEDEV faces Rafael Nadal in a Grand Slam final for the second time as the pair do battle for the 2022 Australian Open title.

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Roger Federer’s retirement hint as Rafael Nadal targets historic Australian Open triumph

ROGER FEDERER could find his Grand Slam haul eclipsed by Rafael Nadal by the close of the Australian Open.

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Rafael Nadal 'more relaxed' about Australian Open final vs Medvedev than Novak Djokovic

RAFAEL NADAL will be more relaxed than Novak Djokovic about the Australian Open final, reckons Boris Becker.

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Kyrgios On Australian Open Title: 'This One Ranks No. 1 For Me'

Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios on Saturday became the first wild cards in the Open Era to win the men’s doubles title at the Australian Open. To say they were thrilled would be an understatement.

“I have won some big titles around the world, played some amazing matches. This one ranks [No.] 1 for me,” Kyrgios said. “When I say I wouldn't want to do it with anybody else, I mean it. It was just special. The whole week, winning each round, I didn't take it for granted. I was soaking it in.”

Kokkinakis, who crafted one of the early stories of the season when he triumphed in Adelaide for his first ATP Tour title, agreed with his longtime friend.

“Comparing to what I have gone through in the years I have had the past few years, I couldn't have asked for anything more. Adelaide was No. 1 for me, but this has trumped it,” Kokkinakis said. “To be a Grand Slam champion with my boy — we have known each other since we were eight, nine years old, done some serious things together, have had some serious experiences — but this is incredible. We didn't expect this at all.”

It has been an especially meaningful Australian summer for Kokkinakis. For years, the 25-year-old has struggled with injuries, which have largely kept him off the biggest stages in tennis.

“I knew what I was capable of, but you always have doubts and you always think to yourself, ‘What if it doesn't happen? What if my career doesn't plan out the way I want it to, or what if I never win a title or get a chance like that?’” Kokkinakis said. “To have the summer I've had, I was stoked with making a semi-final in Adelaide, just coming from not much in a Tour event and then to win, I was, like, ‘Can't get any better than this.’ Then to win a Grand Slam after that, this month has been unbelievable for me.”

^{Photo Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images}
Kokkinakis and Kyrgios defeated four seeded teams en route to the title, including top seeds Nikola Mektic/Mate Pavic and third seeds Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos. The Aussies beat countrymen Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in the final. They served big and blasted away from the baseline to lift the trophy.

“I think if doubles players try and play how we play, it's not gonna work, and if we try and play how doubles specialists play, it's not going to work,” Kokkinakis said. “It's just how we've been brought up, and what we think gives us the best chance to succeed. There's heaps of ways to play doubles but for us pretty much playing singles in a half court works.”

Kyrgios admitted to feeling “like a completely different person” over the course of the fortnight, even waking up at 7:30 a.m. and arriving at the venue for a hit at 8:30 a.m. That paid off for the Australian duo. He said, “This is a memory that we are never going to forget.”

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Daniil Medvedev backtracks on Novak Djokovic claim ahead of Rafael Nadal Aus Open final

DANIIL MEDVEDEV takes on Rafael Nadal in Sunday's Australian Open final.

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Stats Preview: Will Medvedev Or Nadal Serve & Volley In Australian Open Final?

Rafael Nadal is known for his pounding forehand and fighting spirit, while Daniil Medvedev is known for his dogged defence and problem-solving abilities. But could net play decide the 2022 Australian Open final?

History shows that is a legitimate possibility. When the pair met in the 2019 US Open final, serve-and-volleying was a key tactic in the match for both players.

Nadal stunningly used the play 20 times, winning all but three of those points (85%) en route to a thrilling five-set victory. Medvedev serve-and-volleyed an astonishing 29 times (22/29, 76%) in his loss. Combined, they deployed the play 19 times in the deciding fifth set, with the serve-and-volleyer winning nearly 74 per cent of those points (14/19).

Flashback: Nadal-Medvedev 2019 Flushing Meadows Brain Game Analysis

Both men often return from deep behind the baseline, providing an opening for it to be used. But will they take advantage on Sunday inside Rod Laver Arena?

So far this tournament, neither has utilised the tactic much. Nadal has won 12 of his 14 serve-and-volley points through six matches, and Medvedev has won his two, both of which came in his come-from-behind five-set victory against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals.

Net Play At 2022 AO - Medvedev & Nadal

Player	Net Pts Won (%)	Serve & Volley Pts Won (%)
Daniil Medvedev	106/162 (65%)	2/2 (100%)
Rafael Nadal	96/122 (79%)	12/14 (86%)

However, both men have not been shy coming forward during the tournament. Nadal has won 79 per cent of his 122 trips forward (96/122), and Medvedev has claimed 65 per cent of his 162 net points (106/62). The tournament average for net points won in the men’s singles draw has been 67 per cent.

Fittingly, Medvedev and Nadal excelled at net in their two toughest victories. Medvedev won 73 per cent of his net points in his five-set win against Auger-Aliassime, and Nadal took 85 per cent of his (22/26) against Denis Shapovalov in their five-set clash in the last eight.

A majority of points are played in the zero-to-four-shot rally range, and that has been no different for Medvedev and Nadal this fortnight. Within that range, Medvedev has won 54.1 per cent of his points (560/1,036) compared to 53.6 per cent for Nadal (430/802).

But keep an eye on what happens if points last longer than four shots. Nadal has been more dominant in those rallies, winning 59.4 per cent (244/411) of them through six matches. Medvedev has been good in that same range, but not as good as Rafa. He has won 53.8 per cent (239/444) of points lasting five or more shots.

Points Won By Rally Length At 2022 AO

Player	Daniil Medvedev	Rafael Nadal
0-4 Shots	560/1,036 (54.1%)	430/802 (53.6%)
5-8 Shots	151/285 (53%)	157/266 (59%)
9+ Shots	88/159 (55.3%)	87/145 (60%)

After defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals, Medvedev made clear he enjoys the longer rallies.

“Probably [it will be a] physical match,” Medvedev said. “Rafa likes to drag people into long rallies. I like it, too.”

In many metrics, Medvedev and Nadal have faired similarly well at the Australian Open. Medvedev has earned a slightly better rate of break points won (39% to 36%) and break points saved (79% to 76%), while also averaging 1.6 winners for every unforced error (263-163) compared to 1.4 for Nadal (214-151). The lefty has won 56 per cent of his baseline points (362/651) compared to 51 per cent for the Russian (383/746).

When Nadal spoke to the media, he did not yet know whether he would face Medvedev or Tsitsipas. But he said that no matter his opponent, one thing will always stay the same.

“If I'm not able to play at my top level, [there] will be simply no chance,” Nadal said. “Of course [tactics] change a little bit, playing against one or the other. But one thing [that is] not going to change is that I need to play at my highest level.”

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Tennis icon says Nadal, Federer and Djokovic debate is 'over' if Rafa wins Australian Open

RAFAEL NADAL has made it through to the Australian Open final where he will face Daniil Medvedev.

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Novak Djokovic admitted he 'can't be friends' with Rafael Nadal: ‘Fighting for history’

NOVAK DJOKOVIC "can't be friends" with Rafael Nadal due to the intensity of their tennis rivalry, he admitted in a throwback interview.

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Rafael Nadal faces 'war' to topple Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at Australian Open

RAFAEL NADAL faces Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's Australian Open final.

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Rafael Nadal snubbed for Novak Djokovic despite Spaniard's Australian Open opportunity

RAFAEL NADAL has a chance to overtake Novak Djokovic in the race for the most Grand Slams.

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Rafael Nadal reducing Roger Federer to tears among Australian Open's most memorable finals

AHEAD of the concluding weekend of the Australian Open, here's a look back at six of the best final matches to have graced the Rod Laver Arena.

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Djokovic To Compete In Dubai, Nadal & Medvedev In Acapulco

Novak Djokovic will compete in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and Rafael Nadal will play in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in the week of 21 February.

Djokovic is a five-time titlist in Dubai. The Serbian owns a 41-6 record at the ATP 500 event, where he triumphed on his most recent appearance in 2020.

Other players who will be competing in Dubai include defending champion Aslan Karatsev, Top 10 stars Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jannik Sinner, and Denis Shapovalov.

Nadal will be among the stars playing in Acapulco. The ATP 500 will also include Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini.

Nadal is a three-time champion at the Mexican tournament, at which Zverev emerged victorious in 2021. Former World No. 3 and 2014 titlist Grigor Dimitrov and 2021 Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals champion Carlos Alcaraz will also be in the field.

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Roger Federer 'aware of what's going on' as texts about Rafael Nadal and Djokovic shared

ROGER FEDERER might not be in Melbourne to contest the first Grand Slam of 2022, but the 20-time major champion is still keeping a close eye on proceedings.

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Nadal Reaches AO Final, Verge Of Grand Slam History

It’s been a long, sometimes painful road, but Rafael Nadal stays on course for Grand Slam title number 21.

The Spaniard is one match away from becoming the greatest major champion in history after defeating Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 Friday to reach the Australian Open final.

An emotional Nadal was keen to put things into perspective after the win, reflecting on his journey to yet another Grand Slam championship match after struggling with a foot injury for the second half of the 2021 season.

“A month and a half ago I didn’t know if I would be able to play tennis,” the Spaniard said in his post-match on-court interview. “So it doesn’t matter, I just wanted to enjoy it and try my best.”

Nadal beat Berrettini in straight-sets in the 2019 US Open semi-finals, their only previous meeting. The Spaniard would have been happy with something similar on Rod Laver Arena, having admitted he felt ‘completely destroyed’ after his brutal five-set quarter-final encounter with Denis Shapovalov.

Meanwhile Berrettini’s quarter-final win over Gael Monfils made him the first Italian man to reach the Australian Open semi-finals, but he is still seeking his first win over a Top 10 player at a Grand Slam.

Nadal raced into a two-set lead early, frequently taking up a position inside the baseline during longer rallies to pin his opponent deep in the court with a barrage of topspin forehands to the Berrettini backhand.

The tactic earned Nadal early breaks in sets one and two, the World No. 7 getting few opportunities to gain any sort of foothold in his third major semi-final.

Berrettini was finally able to settle into some sort of rhythm, at one point winning 23 consecutive points on serve as he struck back to force a fourth set. Nadal stayed solid to seal victory, however, avoiding a similar ordeal to his clash with Shapovalov. It was the 500th hard-court match win of Nadal’s career as he offered up just two break points in the match and made just 19 unforced errors across the four sets.

“I started the match playing great,” said Nadal. “The first two sets were two of the best for a long time. I know how good Matteo is, he’s a very solid player, very dangerous. In the third I knew at some point he was going to go for his shots. We needed to suffer, we needed to fight, we fought again and that’s the only way to be where I am today. It means a lot to me to be in the final again here.”

It's a sixth #AusOpen final for @RafaelNadal 🙌

He outlasts Matteo Berrettini in a 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 thriller 👏 #AusOpen · #AO2022
🎥: @wwos · @espn · @eurosport · @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/UIbtfGbKvq

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2022

As well as becoming the first man to 21 Grand Slam titles, lifting the trophy in Melbourne would make Nadal the second man (after World No. 1 Novak Djokovic) in the Open Era to win all four Grand Slams twice. Nadal was keen to treat Sunday’s match as he would any other major final, however.

“For me it’s all about the Australian Open, more than anything else,” said Nadal. “It’s just an amazing event. I feel very lucky that I won once [here] in my career, 2009, but I never thought about another chance in 2022, so I’ll just try to enjoy the victory today and then after tomorrow I’ll prepare my best.”

Standing between Nadal and his historic achievement will be the winner of the other semi-final between second seed Daniil Medvedev and fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Nadal has positive ATP Head2Head records against both, leading Russian World No. 2 Medvedev 3-1 and Greek World No. 4 Tsitsipas 7-2.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas opens up on Daniil Medvedev relationship after 'bulls***' fight

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS was previously embroiled in a feud with Daniil Medvedev, and even had him blocked on Instagram.

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Novak Djokovic 'train wreck' provides perfect cover for Rafael Nadal to copy Roger Federer

RAFAEL NADAL has been backed to make cap a sensational fortnight at the Australian Open

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Rafael Nadal dropped major hint over retirement as star admitted: ‘You cannot keep going’

RAFAEL NADAL dropped a major hint over his retirement admitting that he "can't predict the future" and that one day the moment will arrive where he "cannot keep going".

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Novak Djokovic given food for thought on future after tournament chief's admission

NOVAK DJOKOVIC faces an uncertain future in tennis after his Australian Open fiasco.

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The Tour - Food Court: Kyrgios On Love For Sushi & His Cooking Skills

Sushi with a little romance on the side? Nick Kyrgios dishes on his pre-match meal, why he doesn’t’ eat before matches and what he’s throwing on the grill if he invited you around for dinner…

Go-to meal the night before a match?
Sushi is a good one for me; you get some carbohydrates with the rice, and you can monitor what you’ve had pretty easily. I like sushi because it’s kind of like an event: You go with your friends, your girlfriend or your partner, and it comes out on cute little plates, in cute little pieces, soy sauce, couple of giggles here or there. It’s romantic, so… sushi.

You’re having friends or family around for dinner, what are you cooking for them?
I’m a big fan of stir-fry noodles, they’re like my staple diet. I would probably buy some fresh Atlantic salmon and cut it into slices, maybe for some sashimi or chuck it on the grill. I can also make some good salads, so I’d chop up a couple of salads, mix it in, olive oil, lemon, all that type of stuff.

How do you rate your skills in the kitchen?
I’m actually pretty good, I’m pretty good in the kitchen. I’m a hubby, you know what I mean? I can whip up some good meals.

How long before a match would you eat?
If I’m playing in the afternoon or morning, I won’t eat before I play, I’ll just have a coffee and get out there. I don’t eat too much, and on match days I don’t eat much at all.

Your brother Christos is a pretty fit guy. Does he help you with your diet?
He’s definitely very helpful and supportive with my diet. Very good cook; he can cook an amazing amount of food and very good quality. But I feel in general I’m actually pretty good. I don’t eat meat and try not to eat dairy at all, so my diet in general is actually something I take pride in, I feel like I eat pretty good. My brother’s a meat-eater, I’m not.

Is there anything you eat on the court during a match?
Yes, I eat a lot of bananas.

Grigor [Dimitrov] said he hates bananas…
Yeah, I know, but it’s the one thing you can get quick energy from. It doesn’t taste too bad, but Grigor… if I had that rig, I would not be wearing a shirt often, I’ll tell you that much.

If you go to a restaurant, what are you ordering? Any restaurant.
I like a good piece of salmon, cooked medium-rare, maybe some asparagus on the side, just a nice clean meal. And I love oysters, oysters are like my thing. Fun fact for you, oysters are an aphrodisiac, so… it’s where it starts.

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Gilbert Breaks Down Berrettini-Nadal Australian Open Showdown

Australian Open semi-final foes Matteo Berrettini and Rafael Nadal have clashed before. Coincidentally, that match, a straight-sets victory for Nadal at the 2019 US Open, also came in a major semi-final. But according to former World No. 4 Brad Gilbert, plenty has changed since then.

“I think at that point, it was kind of a big surprise for Berrettini to have been there. Now he’s a different guy,” Gilbert told ATPTour.com.. “This is his fourth straight Slam in the quarter-finals, he’s been to a final and he’s a much more confident player.”

During his breakthrough run at Flushing Meadows in 2019, Berrettini was the No. 25 player in the ATP Rankings. He had only cracked the Top 100 18 months earlier.

Now, the 25-year-old is a Top 10 powerhouse who has competed in the Nitto ATP Finals twice and reached his first major final at Wimbledon last year. On the other hand, Nadal is playing just his second tournament since August of last year due to a foot injury.

Will the Italian be able to spring the upset and halt Nadal’s pursuit of a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title?

Gilbert, who has coached the likes of Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, believes Nadal has not played a server like Berrettini through five rounds. In the quarter-finals, the Spaniard battled past Denis Shapovalov in five sets.

“I thought he played very solid to get to the quarters and he was literally seven minutes from beating Denis 3, 4 and 3. He missed an easy pass at 3-all 15/40, a forehand up the line that he makes 99 out of 100 [times],” Gilbert said. “If he breaks there, that match is not complicated and he’s going into the semis totally unscathed. How does he recover physically?”

Nadal admitted to dealing with stomach issues during his win against the Canadian, which was played in the gruelling Melbourne heat. But it is important to note Berrettini and Nadal played their quarter-final on Tuesday, giving them both two days off.

“When [Rafa] had to, he did what he needed to do. It was probably the best thing I’ve ever seen Rafa do,” Gilbert said. “You don’t ever have to see Rafa manage himself and that was a beautiful thing to see, him managing himself through a little bit of a heat issue.

“He’s fitter than a fiddle, but it can happen. Normally when it happens, if you’re not prepared for it, you can have trouble. But he had to manage himself.”

Although Gilbert said that Shapovalov’s highs might even be higher than Berrettini’s, he added the Italian does not dip as often and plays more of a “big-man’s game” with his massive serve and huge forehand.

“His game is all based on surf and turf. That’s what wins it for him. If he’s going to win, he’s bombing serves, bombing first-ball forehands, taking control,” Gilbert said. “If Rafa gets on offence and can make him work, it’s trouble. That’s what he did at the US Open, he broke down the backhand. But if that guy is serving the way he can serve, he serves big. But you don’t know how much energy he’s expended.”

Berrettini also needed five sets in the quarter-finals, in which he clawed past Frenchman Gael Monfils. He was also extended to a fourth set in his first two matches and a fifth-set tie-break in the third round against reigning Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Is the easy answer that Nadal will immediately try to attack the Italian’s backhand and grind him down from there? Gilbert said it is not necessarily that easy.

“When a guy has a monster forehand, you want to be able to take him hard and fast to the forehand because he’s always looking to be on the backhand side of the court hitting forehands,” Gilbert said. “The ultimate goal is to be able to take him hard and fast to the forehand to open up more space to the backhand.”

Who will advance to the final to face Daniil Medvedev or Stefanos Tsitsipas? Gilbert is hoping for a five-setter, and he feels Nadal is a “one-point favourite”.

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Gilbert: Why Medvedev-Tsitsipas SF Is A 'Totally Different Matchup'

Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas could not have taken more different paths through their respective Australian Open quarter-final. Medvedev had to claw back from two sets down to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime, while Tsitsipas cruised past Jannik Sinner in straight sets.

But according to former World No. 4 Brad Gilbert, it is important to keep in mind that Medvedev plays a completely different game than Sinner.

“It’s a totally different matchup. Tsitsipas will try to come forward, Medvedev will defend. Each one of these matches, it’s a completely different matchup,” Gilbert told ATPTour.com. “And when it’s a different matchup, sometimes you act differently. You change tactics, you have to do things differently.

“If Tsitsipas plays as well as he did against Sinner, he’s going to have a great shot. But it’s a different type of player, different type of rhythm. Medvedev is a three-and-a-half point favourite.”

Medvedev leads the pair’s ATP Head2Head series 6-2, including victories in their first five tour-level meetings. But compared to last year’s Australian Open semi-finals, in which Medvedev beat Tsitsipas in straight sets, the circumstances are different.

In 2021, Tsitsipas entered their clash on the back of a gruelling five-setter against Rafael Nadal, while Medvedev won his quarter-final against Andrey Rublev in straight sets.

“[It is] a completely different situation. Medvedev came in cruising in the semi and Tsitsipas won a battle against Rafa,” Gilbert said. “Fast forward a year, Medvedev won a battle and Tsitsipas rolled, so that script flipped.”

The Tsitsipas-Sinner showdown was a meeting between two offensive-minded players who try to get on top of the point. Sinner stays on top of the baseline and tries to blast through his opponents. Medvedev, however, brings a different skillset to the court.

“You’re talking about a guy who plays the best defence on Tour. Sinner doesn’t play nearly as good on defence as Medvedev,” Gilbert said. “[Tsitsipas] didn’t have to press and was hitting beautifully. But maybe all of a sudden that same ball that was getting by Sinner might not get by Medvedev and then maybe he presses and misses. Those are the variables that are different.”

Medvedev is two wins from a historic achievement. No man in the Open Era has won his first major title and then claimed his second in the next Grand Slam. The Russian, who triumphed at last year’s US Open, is trying to do just that. Nadal, who is playing Matteo Berrettini in the other semi-final, is chasing a record-breaking 21st major trophy.

“Everybody gets ahead thinking about it. When you’re in these guys’ shoes, all you’re thinking about is the opponent you’re playing. That’s it,” Gilbert said. “And then when you play the next opponent, you figure out the gameplan for that opponent. That’s what the coach is trying to do, keep it simple, focus on Tsitsipas and that’s it, whether you’re the favourite or not. That’s the matchup.”

Tsitsipas’ first major breakthrough came at the Australian Open in 2019, when he made the last four just months after lifting the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals trophy. This is now the third straight year he has made it this far at Melbourne Park.

“He plays better on this court than anywhere else. It’s the third straight year he’s in the semis. I think what’s going to be crucial for him are his return of serve, because I thought the two best areas of his game against Sinner were his return and backhand,” Gilbert said. “They were on point, and I think that will be crucial for him again against Medvedev.”

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Rafael Nadal can copy Novak Djokovic at Aus Open and do something Roger Federer never has

RAFAEL NADAL is chasing only his second ever Australian Open triumph this week.

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Rafael Nadal 'didn't believe' he could beat Novak Djokovic and almost ditched Aus Open

RAFAEL NADAL'S uncle has revealed the Spaniard's surprising mindset just days before the Grand Slam.

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Rafael Nadal's serving routine infuriated Nick Kyrgios: 'It's bull****'

RAFAEL NADAL's serving routine infuriated Nick Kyrgios, who branded it "bull****'

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SF Preview: After QF Escape, Medvedev Tries To Evade The Tsitsipas 'Zone'

If Daniil Medvedev, on the verge of elimination, was looking for inspiration, he chose well.

The World No. 2 was facing a match point in the fourth set of his Australian Open quarter-final against upset-minded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, his back squarely against the wall. The Russian says it was then that he summoned the mindset of a certain 20-time major titlist, a player who once erased two championship points to prevail at Wimbledon: What would Novak Djokovic do?

“I have to take what I can from the best,” said Medvedev, who would rally from a two-sets-to-love deficit for just the second time in his career, saving a match point in the process, to win, 6-7(4), 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-5, 6-4, in four hours and 41 minutes. “Just be like Novak. Show him that you are better.”

Watch Medvedev QF Highlights:

The escape act means that Medvedev, 25, will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals for the second straight year, having topped the Greek star in the last four in 2021, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5. He’s now 6-2 against Tsitsipas, though his opponent has claimed two of their past three encounters, including a quarter-final clash last year at Roland Garros.

“I’m going to try to recover as well as possible, to be ready to play against Stefanos, because he’s a great player,” said Medvedev. “I need to be at my best to beat him.”

Tsitsipas had an easier go of it in his quarter-final, scoring a straight-sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 decision over 11th seed Jannik Sinner in just over two hours. The man whose first major breakthrough came at this same event in 2019, when the then-20-year-old stunned Roger Federer and became the youngest Slam semi-finalist in a dozen years, somehow always finds a way to ramp it up in the second week in Melbourne Park.

“I feel like I’m in the zone,” said Tsitspias, now 23. “I have no plans of getting out of it. It’s part of my game.”

Watch Tsitsipas QF Highlights:

Despite his Astaire-like performance this week in Melbourne, he says he’s keeping it all in perspective.

“When you’re dancing and when you’re doing well, you tend to glorify yourself, as if you are untouchable,” said the fourth seed. “It is important in that process to remain on the ground and to remind yourself that you are a human being who is aiming for something great, and you’re headed towards that direction and you’re doing everything possible in order to achieve that greatness.”

The Medvedev-Tsitsipas head-to-head can get testy at times. In fact, on the very first occasion the Laver Cup teammates faced off, at the ATP Masters 1000 Miami Open presented by Itau in 2018, heated words were exchanged both during and after the match (Medvedev would claim the first-round affair, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.).

“It’s fine,” said Tsitspias of the burgeoning rivalry. “We haven’t really spoken in the past couple of months, but our relationship is competitors on the court and kind of fighting for the same dream.”

Both players are dreaming big. Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, is attempting to become the first man in the Open Era to win his second major title in his next Grand Slam appearance. Tsitsipas, meanwhile, continues to chase his first Grand Slam title, having infamously surrendered a two-sets-to-love advantage against Djokovic in the Roland Garros final last year.

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How Nadal's High-Risk, High-Reward Serving Is Paying Off

Rafael Nadal committed 11 double faults against Denis Shapovalov in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, more than he had in any previous match of his ATP Tour career. But the Spaniard and his team were unperturbed by a stat that they see more as the collateral effect of Rafa’s plan for 2022: to serve faster on his second serve.

The numbers show that the initiative is working. At Roland Garros in 2021, his most recent Grand Slam tournament before this year’s Australian Open, Rafa had an average serve speed of 180 kilometres per hour on his first serve and 150km/h on his second serve. So far, in the year’s first major, where he has won five matches en route to the semi-finals, he has produced an average of 187km/h on his first delivery and 162km/h on his second.

These statistics put him among the greatest servers in our sport. In fact, the 2009 Australian Open champion now has a greater average speed on his second serve over these two weeks than Matteo Berrettini (161km/h), who he will meet in the semis on Friday, Russian Daniil Medvedev (156km/h) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (155km/h).

“[Rafa] is realising how many free points he’s getting. The other day I was talking to him about it before his match against [Adrian] Mannarino. He served 16 aces and six doubles," said one of Nadal's coaches, former World No. 1 Carlos Moya. "I told him that I would far prefer that to three aces and no double faults. Because at the end of the day you want the points to be shorter, you want to be aggressive. And the first opportunity to do that is the serve."

He is taking a risk on both serves in order to win service games more easily, put more pressure on the returner and to save as much energy as possible on court. This is the current philosophy for Nadal, who on Friday will play the 90th match of his career at the Australian Open. It is a philosophy that is delivering results.

Nadal’s Serve In 2022 (including Melbourne Summer Set)

Aces	52
Average 1st-Serve Speed	188km/h
Average 2nd-Serve Speed	164km/h
1st-Serve Pts Won	79%
2nd-Serve Pts Won	54%

“I think that yesterday [against Denis Shapovalov] was a clear statement of that intention, and that’s why the serve was an essential part of winning the match,” added Moya, who has been coaching Nadal since 2016. “At 35 years of age you have to increasingly move towards that type of match. Yesterday’s match is a statement of intent that he is willing to take risks, to accept that risk-reward ratio. So far, the benefits have been very high.”

Nadal has not been shy about taking risks in Melbourne, even in high-pressure situations. For example, the first of the four set points he faced in the tie-break against Mannarino in the last sixteen, he saved with a 169km/h second serve that forced the Frenchman into a mistake. Until that point, Rafa had only produced one faster second serve172km/h at the start of the match.

Against Shapovalov, although he served a significant number of double faults, Nadal continued to take risks. In fact, against the 22-year-old Canadian, apart from winning his first 12 service games without facing a break point, he produced his highest average service speed this fortnight in Australia - 190km/h on his first and 165km/h on his second.

Nadal’s Avg Serve Speed At The 2022 Australian Open

Opponent	Round	1st Serve	2nd Serve
Marcos Giron	1st	188km/h	165km/h
Yannick Hanfmann	2nd	188km/h	161km/h
Karen Khachanov	3rd	185km/h	158km/h
Adrian Mannarino	4th	187km/h	165km/h
Denis Shapovalov	QF	190km/h	165km/h

Just five years ago in Melbourne, Nadal’s goal in his first Grand Slam with Moya as one of his coaches was to go from a 140km/h average to 150km/h for his second serve. The progress since then has been remarkable. “Our first goal was to reach 150km/h in 2017, when he was at 135 to 140. But this tournament has shown that his average is now over 160,” said Moya.

Nadal’s improvement with this strategy — having changed his technique three years ago, also in Australia — is a reflection of his desire to keep winning despite his age, and his dream of claiming a 21st Grand Slam title is looking increasingly achievable.

Did You Know?
Nadal has only been broken four times in five matches at this year's Australian Open (78/82, 95% hold rate).

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Emma Raducanu told to do three things after Australian Open to 'win many more big titles'

TIM HENMAN has offered Emma Raducanu advice after the US Open champion crashed out of the Australian Open.

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Novak Djokovic's return date after Australian Open drama confirmed as he picks next event

NOVAK DJOKOVIC will be back in action sooner than many expected.

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Nishikori Undergoes Hip Surgery

Japanese star Kei Nishikori announced on Tuesday that he underwent arthroscopic left hip surgery, which will keep him about for “about six months”.

“After trying several different rehab options I have decided (together with my medical team) to have arthroscopic hip surgery this week,” Nishikori wrote on Twitter. “I will work as hard as I can and the goal is to be back in about 6 months. Thank you for all your support and look forward to seeing you on the tour again soon.”

Nishikori, who is currently No. 46 in the ATP Rankings, has not competed since the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells last October.

The 32-year-old has climbed as high as World No. 4, lifted 12 ATP Tour trophies and competed in the Nitto ATP Finals four times.

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ATP rankings IN FULL: Novak Djokovic update after Australian Open ban - Top 20 stars

ATP rankings are updated every week, with all of the men's tennis stars aiming to move up the official world rankings in pursuit of Novak Djokovic's prestigious No 1 spot. These are the latest ATP rankings - and how Djokovic could suffer as a result of his Australia Open ban.

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Dylan Alcott Named Australian Of The Year

Dylan Alcott on Tuesday was named Australian of the Year and awarded an Officer of the Order (AO) in the Australia Day Honours List. The longtime wheelchair tennis star was recognised for his distinguished service to Paralympic sport and as a role model for people with a disability.

Alcott won his Australian Open quad wheelchair singles semi-final on Tuesday afternoon before flying to Canberra for the evening ceremony. The Australian did not expect to win, he told the media before his flight.

“If by the very odd chance you have a win, you cannot do that on Zoom. So many people with disability should have won that award over the years but haven’t,” Alcott said. “I would never forgive myself if I don't go, even though I don't think I'm going to get up. I'm going to go. I always do stuff like this.”

Alcott later added: “I’m always like, It would just be so cool for a person with disability to get up there and be able to have that. Been Young Australian of the Year, Senior, all that, just not many Australians of the Year. Also to be given that platform to talk about what you're passionate about is super cool.” 

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley congratulated Alcott for his accomplishments on and off the court. 

“We are incredibly fortunate Dylan chose tennis as we’ve had the opportunity to see first-hand his great sense of humour, sharp intellect and his incredible work ethic and drive to succeed in all aspects of his life,” Tiley said in a statement. “His advocacy for people with a disability is a force to behold. He has the power to change the world and is not afraid to use it.

“For a long time we’ve known that Dylan’s influence reaches far beyond the tennis court or the sports stadium. He has a magnificent ability to engage with all people that transcends tennis, and sport.” 

Alcott will play Sam Schroder in the Australian Open final on Thursday. It will be his last competitive match before retiring.

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Rafael Nadal at ‘unbelievable level’ as Australian Open star beats Denis Shapovalov

RAFAEL NADAL beat Denis Shapovalov at the Australian Open on Tuesday morning.

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Wimbledon and Grand Slams should announce vaccine plans now to avoid more Djokovic drama

THE LONG-RUNNING SAGA involving Novak Djokovic and his visa battle with the government case a shadow over the Australian Open, and that cannot be allowed to happen again.

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How Berrettini & Sinner Are Pushing Italian Tennis Renaissance To Historic Heights

Team Italy failed to reach the semi-finals at the ATP Cup to start 2022, but it was only a matter of time before Italians made their mark on the new season. Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner have not taken long to do just that.

Both Berrettini and Sinner are into the Australian Open quarter-finals, where they have a chance to make more history for their country. If both men advance to the last four, it will be just the second time that multiple Italian men have reached the semi-finals at the same Grand Slam. The last time that happened was 1960 at Roland Garros, where Nicola Pietrangeli and Orlando Sirola achieved the feat. No Italian duo has done it in the Open Era.

But perhaps what is most interesting about Berrettini and Sinner is their unique games, paths and personalities. In some ways they are similar — both men have powerful games and the utmost respect from their peers on and off the court. However, they are not carved from the same Italian stone.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, who will play Sinner in the quarter-finals, compared the two Italians.

“I would consider Matteo more of a heavy server than Jannik, meaning that he does generate more power and more precision with his serve and gets more free points from his serve than Jannik,” Tsitsipas said. “Jannik, I would consider [the] more talented player from the baseline. [He] looks like he's very relaxed when he's playing. Doesn't show much tension when he's out there. Pretty cold-blooded in comparison with Matteo, who looks a little bit more emotional.”

^{Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour}
That was not in any way a slight of Berrettini. In terms of personalities, Berrettini is closer to fire and Sinner is nearer to ice. Berrettini is quicker to let out a big roar and a fist pump than Sinner, who remains closer to a flatline through the highs and lows of a match. Matteo has also praised his countryman's maturity.

“Jannik is so young, but at the same time he’s so much older. He knows how to have fun, but how to put the work in at the same time,” Berrettini said. “I think what he’s doing is impressive, but I think it comes from his attitude and the way he goes through things. He’s really mature in that way, and that’s one of the reasons he’s getting crazy results.”

In a way, Berrettini, who will play Gael Monfils in the quarter-finals, has carved the path for Sinner to follow through. After Fabio Fognini became the third Italian man to crack the Top 10 of the FedEx ATP Rankings in 2019, Matteo quickly followed later that year following his run to the US Open semi-finals. He has not dropped from the Top 10 since.

By advancing to the last eight at Melbourne Park, the 25-year-old Berrettini has now made at least the quarter-finals at all four majors. One more win would put him in joint second for most Slam semi-finals in history among Italian men alongside Adriano Panatta.

“It means that I'm doing great stuff, which I never believed I could do when I was younger. I always remember being here, playing the juniors and thinking maybe I'm gonna play qualies. I don't know,” Berrettini said. “So it's a good feeling.”

It is easy to forget, but Sinner is just 20, and he reached the Top 10 last November. When Berrettini was that age, he had never been inside the world’s Top 500.

Sinner spent much of his early years focussing on more than one sport. Hailing from San Candido, near the Austrian border, he was one of the best skiers of his age in all of Italy. But once Jannik turned his focus to tennis in his early teens, he has not looked back. Even now, Sinner is fully focussed on the future and most importantly, improving every day.

After Team Italy was eliminated from the ATP Cup, the World No. 10 gave a very veteran answer when a reporter asked what his plans were for the week ahead of the Australian Open.

"I don't know yet," Sinner said, before cracking a smile. "But I think practice every day."

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Rafael Nadal blasted Catalonian independence plans: 'I can't run a red light!'

RAFAEL NADAL once blasted the Catalonian independence referendum in an impassioned rant.

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Rafael Nadal explains how he's surprised himself during Australian Open

RAFAEL NADAL is preparing to face Denis Shapovalov in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open as he chases a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.

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The Inner Voice That Helped Tsitsipas Reach Australian Open QFs

Stefanos Tsitipas’ back was against the wall in the fourth round of the Australian Open against Taylor Fritz, but the Greek’s inner voice helped save the day.

“I felt like there were certain moments where I got defensive and wasn't going for my shots too much, and I kept talking to myself and kept saying, ‘Hit the ball, go for it’,” Tsitsipas said. “That eventually was kind of engraved in my mind. That voice kind of became a reality in the fifth set.

“I came to the conclusion that I cannot be too defensive, I cannot stay in the rallies too much. I have to make him move and I have to be aggressive at the same time.”

That mindset worked, as Tsitsipas rallied past the American 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his third Australian Open quarter-final. In the deciding fifth set, he made just four unforced errors to complete his triumph after three hours and 23 minutes.

“It was very tough, and I had to deal with these moments in the best way. Being able to overcome these difficulties required a lot of mental toughness, and I think I did the right things at these points and managed it very well. It was a great comeback,” Tsitsipas said. “It was a match with a lot of emotions, and I had to keep constantly reminding myself to stay in it and try and find solutions to all these problems, because there was heavy hitting, there were lots of rallies. Serves, big serves from both sides. So there were a lot of things going on.”

Overall, Tsitsipas struck 53 winners to just 44 unforced errors, a solid performance against an in-form Fritz. The American, who was competing in the fourth round of a major for the first time, showed little fear of the moment. He hit 52 winners to put Tsitsipas in trouble in the first place.

But the fourth seed dug deep and played the better tennis when it mattered most. Tsitsipas has put to rest discussions about his elbow, which hovered over him early in the season when he did not play his first singles match at the ATP Cup.

“I missed two weeks of preseason, which was not too bad, because the doctor predicted otherwise,” Tsitsipas said. “My recovery was faster than anyone would have thought it would have been. My recovery was very surprising to my doctor.”

^{Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour}
Tsitsipas’ determination has been impressive Down Under, and he is now into the last eight at the Australian Open for the third time in four years. The 23-year-old said it was an emotional win for him, and that he played better with those emotions.

“I was able to sustain that emotion and was able to deal with it in the best way. I think the crowd was very important today, encouraging me and giving me their energy from start to finish,” Tsitsipas said. “They [played] a big role in today's success and overcoming the difficult obstacles that was presented to me throughout the entirety of the match.”

Next up for the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion will be 11th seed Jannik Sinner. Tsitsipas leads the pair’s ATP Head2Head series 2-1.

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