Expert picks are back for the Australian Open quarterfinals on Tuesday, when Rafael Nadal faces Denis Shapovalov and Matteo Berrettini meets Gael Monfils. A three-team panel previews the action and makes its predictions.
Denis Shapovalov vs. (6) Rafael Nadal
Ricky: Nadal played Yannick Hanfmann instead of Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round, Adrian Mannarino instead of Hubert Hurkacz or Aslan Karatsev in the fourth round, and now Shapovalov instead of Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals. If he wins this one, the Spaniard will run into either Matteo Berrettini or Gael Monfils instead of Novak Djokovic in the semis. Are the stars aligning for a 21st major title and a double career Grand Slam? It’s starting to feel that way. Nadal has been very good in his own right in addition to the good fortune. He is now 7-0 this season with a title at the Melbourne 250 and four convincing wins at this Aussie Open. Shapovalov is dangerous, but he probably doesn’t have the consistency to topple Nadal in a best-of-five situation. Make it four in a row for the Spaniard in this head-to-head series. Nadal in 4: 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3.
Cheryl: Honestly, I had fairly low expectations for Nadal at this Australian Open. The 2009 champion had been sidelined with his chronic foot injury for more than six months. He also had a nasty bout of Covid-19 in December, from which he only just recovered right before landing in Melbourne a few weeks ago. Nadal was handed a tough draw and I figured he’d just be too rusty. But here he is, in the quarters — and more importantly he is playing well. His serve looks better than it has in some time, and he’s getting plenty of pop on his forehand. Shapovalov has had a fantastic tournament so far. The Canadian shellacked Zverev and he helped lead his country to the ATP Cup crown. Shapovalov defeated Nadal in their first-ever meeting back in 2017, and he came within a few points of knocking the Spaniard out of the Rome Masters last year. His big-hitting game is the sort that can give Nadal difficulty, and he’s playing especially well in 2022 so far. Nadal should come through, but Shapovalov is going to make him work for it. Nadal in 5: 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
Pete: Ironically, it is Nadal now that has commanded front and center attention at the Australian Open as a few key obstacles (Djokovic and Zverev) to his path to a potential 21st major title have been eliminated in the last week.Instead of Zverev as his opponent in the quarterfinals it is Shapovalov, who brushed away the Olympic and 2021 Nitto ATP Finals champion in straight sets. The Canadian will be grateful to have been able to conserve energy in the last round, as he was tested earlier in the tournament — even rallying from a two sets to one deficit in the second round. Nadal has taken a more direct route to the quarters, dropping just one set thus far. The 2009 AO champion has exited Melbourne at the quarterfinal stage seven times, including in three of the last four years. He has his eyes squarely on the prize that has eluded him for more than a decade and will likely power into the semis. Facing Shapovalov rather than Zverev at this stage of the tournament is certainly a break in getting closer to history. Nadal in 3: 7-5, 6-4, 6-3.
(17) Gael Monfils vs. (7) Matteo Berrettini
Ricky: I had Monfils in the semifinals before the tournament started and I’m not about to waffle — not when he has reeled off four consecutive straight-set victories. The Frenchman has always been one of the most talented players in the world. When he is healthy and motivated, he is also one of the best. Monfils is both of those things right now. Berrettin has been tested in all four of his matches, even though he didn’t lose a set to Pablo Carreno Busta on Sunday. The Italian has been good this fortnight, but not great. Their only previous Grand Slam encounter (2019 U.S. Open quarterfinals) went to a fifth-set tiebreaker. I expect something similar…but this time with Monfils winning. Monfils in 5: 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3.
Cheryl: This is one of the more surprising quarterfinals. While Berrettini has been impressively consistent in majors for the past year or so, Monfils has been the exact opposite. The Frenchman could barely manage to win a single match a year ago. In the past week, he has dispatched all four of his opponents in straight sets. With Berrettini’s monster game, I expect that Monfils’ straight-set wins are going to come to an abrupt end. The Italian’s serve hasn’t been quite as effective on these slower hard courts as it is on grass, but it’s still a fierce weapon and will do some damage. The crowd will almost certainly be behind Monfils, who is one of the more popular veteran players on tour. But in the end I expect Berrettini to earn a spot in his first Australian Open semifinal. Berrettini in 4: 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Pete: Let us not forget the torrid start to 2020 that Monfils exhibited, going 16-3 with two titles and losses only to Novak Djokovic twice and to Dominic Thiem. The pandemic seemed to impact Monfils to a greater extent than anyone else on the ATP Tour. The Frenchman lost the only four matches he played when he returned in September, then lost his initial three matches in 2021 before finally winning a match in May — a stretch of nearly 15 full months without a victory. As a result, he is absolutely relishing his success to begin 2022 — already winning a title in Adelaide and recording four straight-set wins in Melbourne. In fact, Monfils dropped just five games in each of his first two matches. This is only the second quarterfinal appearance for Monfils in his 17th visit to the AO. Berrettini has now earned quarterfinal berths at each of the last four majors. The Italian is 4-0 in tiebreakers in the tournament and certainly received his wakeup call in his third-round encounter with Alcaraz that went the distance. For Monfils, this is a significant increase in talent level across the net compared to his first four matches. Berrettini in 4: 7-6(4), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Holy shit.. 4 points away..1 game.. surely melbourne cannot be this cruel from here
haha, I know right!!
5-3. He NEEDS first serves! PLEASE. No more drama here!
Just one more game, Rafa. Just ONE more game.
Rafa serving for the match at 5:3
No federer 40-15 moments please🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I can’t breathe.
Rafa seems incredibly calm though!
Mona,
Are you watching now?
Two fucking points away
GOO SERVING! 30-15
Oh God!
Game, set, Rafa!
Vamosssssss!
Omfg.. Rafa did it
Would have been epic if rafa cried “dont quit me dont quit me ” after match point😂😂
‘You guys are all corrupt!’ – Denis Shapovalov in furious rant at Rafael Nadal and umpire at Australian Open
“You started the clock like 45 seconds ago and he is not ready to play,” Denis Shapovalov began in his angry rant at the umpire over Rafael Nadal’s apparent time-wasting. “You started the clock like so long ago and he is still not ready to play. You’ve gotta code him. Code him! He’s not ready to play! Are you kidding me? You guys are all corrupt! You guys are all corrupt!”
https://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/australian-open/2022/you-guys-are-all-corrupt-denis-shapovalov-in-furious-rant-at-rafael-nadal-and-umpire-at-australian-o_sto8735752/story.shtml
ridiculous
Can rafa request his semi to be held on friday pleas
it is on Friday
They just said Rafa has two days off.,
Oh now I can’t stop crying😢
Oh gosh!!! Now I can breath!!! Wow!!! After all these years of watching Rafa I can’t always watch lol!! But Vamos, Vamos, Vamos!!
You guys are all corrupt, Shapovalov rants at Nadal and umpire.
https://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/australian-open/2022/you-guys-are-all-corrupt-denis-shapovalov-in-furious-rant-at-rafael-nadal-and-umpire-at-australian-o_sto8735752/story.shtml
What? What is that all about?
About umpire tolerating Nadal “not being ready” for Shapo service.
Not he first time Nadal was stalling like that, though.
Shapo, someone needs to be very honest with. You need a psychologist, not a tennis coach. Sort that out and you’re a serious major contender.
Is Rafa injured ..please tell me that ..what is the issue with his stomach ..i did not see the match but hearing some issue with stomach .is it an ab injury
Rafa says he is not injured. He felt something in his stomach and they gave his a tablet. Later on they checked whether there was tension in his stomach but there was nothing wrong.
Of course he’s not injured.
He just wanted Sapovalov to cool down a bit.
Oh thats nice.. i remember australia used to hold one semi on thursday.. hope the semi can be str sets
Looks like rafas competitive juices overcame his digestive juices😀
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 yes, I’m happy about that too!! My digestive juices always acts up when Rafa’s playing!!!
This is the round I was most worried about in the whole of the draw, whether it was Zverev or Shapo. So glad Rafa has made it through.
Vamos!
Nadline i did not see Match just saw interview with courier. Is Rafa injured .can u please tell me what is this stomach issue
No he is not injured. The doctor gave him a tablet and they checked him out to see if there was tension in his stomach but there is nothing wrong.
Okay thank you. I heard that but seems his play dropped lot in third n fourth..hence asking.
Sanju,
Rafa explained it in his on court interview after the match. It was a stomach issue.
He wiii have two days off before the semifinal.
The problem was nerves that he was trying to suppress and for certain ppl like me it can affect you, so he needed something to help him stay his stomach! Just happy with the result!
Now, let me see if Barty can get to the semis too!! Vamos!!!
OH MY GOD!!! There is a GOD and his name is Rafa!!! Congrats to those of you who managed to watch the match! I got up an hour ago, 1:30 AM my time and checked the score. 2 sets all, but Rafa had lost the last two. I thought it was hopeless, but no way could I go back to sleep. I checked here, Rafa was ailing. OH NO!!! But sleep out of the question! Wow. Wonder if I even have a recording…yet.
*waves at Ricky* I see he stayed up for this one!
Grats and sympathy to all you brave loyal Rafans!!!!
Rafa is one of the very few lucky ones that had all the intangibles instilled him in from a young age. He should consider himself very lucky because the vast majority never get that advantage in life.
Rafa does, always, consider himself to be a “lucky guy”. Certainly he was very, very fortunate in his family and upbringing. Rafa always said he had a “fairytale” childhood. So was Roger, not quite as lucky perhaps – I know nothing about Roger’s extended family – but certainly Roger had – and has – great parents.
Actually it is perhaps the norm for tennis players to come from good homes with good parents, although the exceptions get a lot of press. There’s some pretty bad tennis parents out there for sure!
I recorded it the last two sets. I would watch some of it but I got too stressed out when Shapo evened it up by winning the fourth set..
Later on I will watch it. It’s 3:00 am in the morning. Time to go to sleep!
Congratulations Rafa! He broke the quarterfinal curse!
In the semifinals!
😍