Rafael Nadal will continue his Australian Open campaign when he collides with fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta on Saturday. The winner of that contest will battle either Karen Khachanov or Nick Kyrgios in round four.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (27) Pablo Carreno Busta
It would be an understatement to say that Carreno Busta much prefers having Nadal on the same side of the court as opposed to the opposite one. They are 8-1 together in doubles, while Nadal is sweeping the singles head-to-head series 4-0 heading into Saturday’s third-round matchup at the Australian Open. The current world No. 1 is 8-1 in total sets, but Carreno Busta’s one set came in their only previous hard-court encounter (Doha 2016).
Is there any hope for the 30th-ranked Spaniard this time? Probably not, but Nadal at least left the door briefly open for Federico Delbonis to steal a set in a 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-1 victory on Thursday night. Nadal preceded that result with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 beatdown of Hugo Dellien, while Carreno Busta has defeated both Jozef Kovalik and Peter Gojowyczk in four sets. Carreno Busta will make for some entertaining rallies, but this should be a straightforward affair for his heavily-favored countryman.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 11-14 games
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(23) Nick Kyrgios vs. (16) Karen Khachanov
Khachanov and Kyrgios will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Saturday. Their only previous contest was an infamous one, and that is putting it mildly. It was the scene of arguably Kyrgios’ biggest-ever meltdown to date, and that is saying a lot. Beyond the Aussie’s shenanigans, the most importing thing for Khachanov is that he stayed composed and prevailed 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-2 in round two of the Cincinnati Masters last summer.
A better-behaved Kyrgios (he is still on provisional suspension stemming from that match, after all) has been on top of his game so far in Melbourne, taking out Lorenzo Sonego in straight sets and Gilles Simon in four. The world No. 26 was not exactly dominant on either occasion, however. Khachanov has a new lease on life after outlasting Mikael Ymer in a fifth-set tiebreaker on Thursday. The 17th-ranked Russian struggled physically at the end, but that was really due to just one marathon point in the ‘breaker and he had previously looked fine throughout the four-hour and 34-minute struggle. This is another good opportunity for Khachanov against an opponent who is known to go off the rails whenever things aren’t easy for him.
Pick: Khachanov in 4
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Nick must win in 3 with this injury!
Rafa was playing so well i fell asleep, lol!!
Come on Karen!
Kyrgios learning from his idol Fed, he also wants to win in five sets!
Lol, well, advantage Rafa? But Karen’s playing well though!
See, told you, Kyrgios wants to be like Fed! But now I doubt he has the energy to take out Rafa in the next round. If Rafa beats Kyrgios relatively comfortably, he’ll have Khachanov to thank for!
Vamos Rafa! Come on, get rid of Kyrgios in the next round.
Well played by Nick at the end there. Really should’ve won it in three though, he’s just too cavalier at times.
Will be interesting to see if he can even be fit for Rafa.
No once he sees Rafa on the other side of net, game on!!! Lol!!
A bit surprised that Khachanov has the energy to go five sets four and a half hours today, after his epic against M Ymer in five sets and also four and a half hours. Too bad for him, it’s not meant to be for him this time.
Absolutely epic. Recovery time for NK, hopefully he can be fit for Rafa match so we can witness another epic
So is NK injured or not? I only saw live scores
If he isn’t could those in attendance oblige please?
He picked up a knock in his leg somewhere after coming down on one of his serves early in 1st set, seemed to run it off though to my eye, but at the end he said his legs “feel like 40 kilos each”. Interesting recovery ahead lool
Amy..don’t bank on it .rafa has to come out of the gates asap ..else Nick will put pressure
Yes I know sanju!
Having said that, it is good that NK had to play a 5 setter and Rafa won easily in 3. NK isn’t very fit.
I am still worried of course!!😀
I hope noone is hoping Kyrgios is injured for this,I want to see a good match.Apart from the inevitable fireworks
Good luck with that. It would be nice to see a great match without the inevitable NK antics. Well, miracles can happen. I guess.
One time warning for NK and that will be it…
Apparently that was the longest match NK has ever played! Will that have a significant effect or not??
I hope rafa comes out strong as he did at wimby winning the first set. It’s important he gets a good start…!
Strange that Rafa could come out of the gate playing aggressive tennis vs Kyrgios (as per their recent Wimbledon match), but once he sees Djoko across the net, he turns defensive and has to chase from behind oh so often and that’s why he couldn’t even win a set on the HCs against Djoko, after the USO2013 final!
When would Rafa learn a lesson?
The draw is a bit disappointing. 1st half looks stronger.
Thiem, Med, Zverev, Kyrgios all there. Not to mention Kachanov and Tsitsi that had to leave. Who can stop Djoko? I hope Schwartz takes at least a set.
Djoko is still 3 matches away. We should worry about kyrgios, thiem, Medvedev before that
Look, even if Rafa gets to the final it will be mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting to play no matter who is across the net bcos Rafa’s draw IS exhausting in itself!!
Novak is a lucky bastard!! Hope Diego makes him run like a dog!!!!!
Medvedev stan could be spicy too
Just wanted to say Brazilian tennis player Jaou Sousa has received a lifetime ban from tennis for match fixing ….
That’s J. Souza from Brazil NOT Joao Sousa of Portugal.
Finally getting to watch a match and it’s a great one! Khachanov-Kyrgios
What a dope. Kyrigos could have finished the match in three straight sets had he been focused. Not saying Khachanov didn’t play well or looked bad. He’s looking great. Love this match!
My WTA bracket is very disappointing!
So rafa kyrgios ..ratcliff ?
Who is your pick to make semis both halves ?
N Mira yours now ?
Hey Sanju!….Ohh..i will go with Rafa too!Definitely!…Even b4 Nicky had to play for 4 hrs & half,i already picked Rafa..
Semis…Rafa/Meddy….Fed/Novak
Big hey hey hey to amy & RC!
Hey hey hey mira! Good to see you hon!!
An dreading Rafa playing NK although the fact that NK just played his longest match ever must surely help him.
Hey hey hey back amy!…nice to c u too amy!hehe….how r u amy?Hope everythings ok in your part of your world!…
Bout Rafa/Nicky… when they met at Wimby last year We also dreaded of that meeting remember?But Rafa managed to come out unscathed from that…And if Rafa be able to win against him on grass,..here is not much different i think..
Hope Rafa practice at nite to get used to the cold condition…i think the temp will be 19 celcius?I also think Rafa is not used to the cold weather at Melbourne in january…that’s why he had problem against Delbo…usually the weather is not this cold at this time of the year..
Btw…i’m super xcited for their match amy!…C’mon Rafa!…kick his sore ass!!
I feel meddy can be upset by stan or rublev
Good to see your frog here rc!
I told you Pliskova underperforms in slams!!
Not that I got anything else right mind.
Go Petra!
You’re not alone! Ive only got on eplayer (Barty) left after week 1 .
I really thought (hoped) Pliskova might do it this year .I didn’t go for Petra going far because the air conditions might not suit her .
Anyway its all very interesting esp the mens.
Rafa is winning his next match even if it is played in the evening. Would be nice if Gael beats Thiem and give Rafa a softer qtr final!
On a separate note, kudos to Zverev for turning things around! He is the player of the week given how much he has improved since ATP cup. Not sure if he can stop Rublev but he is on the right track again.
I just saw highlights of Rafa against PCB. He was very very good. I still fear NK…
Sure vamosrafa ?
Monfils won’t beat thiem. Now that svitolina is out ..i doubt he has much motivation to stay 🙂
VR,
From your lips to God’s ears! I am always very nervous when Rafa has to play Kyrgios. I dread it. Kyrgios will act up for sure. He does not bother to hide his dislike for Rafa.
I am glad that Rafa showed much better form against PCB. He will need it against Kyrgios. If it’s at night then I won’t see it live, I can’t stay up to the wee hours anymore, so I will record it.
It would be lovely if Gael could beat Thiem, but after seeing Thiem playing I don’t think so. Rafa reality has a tough draw.
Anyone exoecting stan Medvedev to be spicy n tough ?
Btw whenever rafa has beaten kachanov..he has not gone far in slams..wimby 17 third round and uso 18 third round ..wimby 17 he lost next round n uso 18 he lost in semis
So maybe Karen losing is good 🙂
Meeting Kyrgios Is never good for Rafa! Matches with spoiled brat take so much away from Rafa primarily in the mental department…I was so hoping Karen to win…
If Nick was to meet anyone but Rafa in his next round I bet he would have had lost the match today after Kachanov’s comeback! But Nick was super motivated just to be able to play Rafa…
Hope my guy turns up focused and with less nervousness…I wish Rafa luck and success! He will have the crowd against him…tough job for Rafa…
Vamos Champ!
Ramara im only repeating what i read on my MSN homepage
Yup, your MSN homepage was wrong, along with a few others! Joao Sousa (from Portugal) is a good guy, didn’t want his rep trashed by accident. As for Souza, good riddance to bad rubbish!
vamos kyrgios
Ramara i said Brazilian not Portugal ….
I think it will be the TOP four guys at the SFs. I expect Rafa to beat Meddy if both get there; as for Fed vs Djoko, I think Djoko will win even though I hope he won’t!
PS I expect Rafa to beat Kyrgios and then whoever in the QF. I expect Meddy to beat Stan and Rublev or Sasha too (most likely Rublev).
Big tests for Rafa and Novak against Kyrgios and Raonic in the QF.
Regarding Sandgren, don’t know much about him. But I prefer him to those 2.