Rafael Nadal will face familiar foe Karen Khachanov in round three of the Australian Open on Friday. A blockbuster slate of matches in the top half of the bracket also includes Denis Shapovalov, who is going up against Reilly Opelka.
(28) Karen Khachanov vs. (6) Rafael Nadal
Nadal and Khachanov will be going head-to-head for the eighth time in their careers when they clash in round three of the Australian Open on Friday. All seven of their previous encounters have gone Nadal’s way, to the extent that this is one of the most lopsided matchups on tour right now. The 35-year-old is 16-1 lifetime in total sets at Khachanov’s expense. They have not squared off since 2019, when Nadal prevailed in a pair of tiebreakers at the Indian Wells Masters before getting the job done 6-3, 7-6(7) in the Davis Cup Finals.
After missing the last three months of 2021 because of a foot injury, Nadal is off to a roaring start this season. The 20-time Grand Slam champion triumphed at the Melbourne 250 and so far this fortnight has erased Marcos Giron and Jannick Hanffman in straight sets. Khachanov held off Denis Kudla in a fourth-set tiebreaker before easing past Benjamin Bonzi 6-4, 6-0, 7-5 on Wednesday. The 30th-ranked Russian is the kind of player that can give Nadal problems and their set scores have actually been close for the most part even though the Spaniard has taken almost every one. Expect a competitive contest, but there is no reason to think Nadal is bowing out at this point of the event.
Pick: Nadal in 4
(23) Reilly Opelka vs. (14) Denis Shapovalov
Tiebreakers can be expected to rule the day when Shapovalov and Opelka collide for the second time in their careers. Shapovalov played three of them against Soonwoo Kwon during a five-set victory on Wednesday and Opelka’s game style is obviously such that service breaks are few and far between. It is no surprise that their only previous meeting went to a third-set tiebreaker, won by Shapovalov 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6) at 2017 Queen’s Club qualifying.
Opelka is looking good with straight-set defeats of Kevin Anderson and Dominik Koepfer–requiring only two tiebreakers in the process. Like most contests involving the 6’11” American, this one could go either way. But Shapovalov was a semifinalist at Wimbledon last summer and he is more likely to continue his Grand Slam success Down Under. In a best-of-five situation, the 14th-ranked Canadian should have the upper hand late in the proceedings.
Pick: Shapovalov in 4
Rafa dominating! 6-3 5-1. Vamos!
Yes, Rafa is serving well, his ground strokes r aplomb, I mean RAFA is really giving the business out there!! He seems confident and is going for his shots,no signs of nerves yet. Even the commentators r a lost for words bcoz they seemed to really expect Karen to leave treads over Rafa, sigh!! Well not for the first two sets, not so says Rafa!! Now let’s wrap this up in 3 Rafa!! Vamos!!
If Khachanov had a brain he’d be dangerous. All he needs to focus on is making the match as physical as possible. Instead, he’s playing like he has to go for a winner in the first few shots of each really.
By making it physical, he puts himself in a position of control because it’s the last thing Nadal wants and takes his focus away from his game plan.
Nadal is loving the fact that he’s playing a dumb match.
I doubt that would be a good strategy for Karen bcoz right now he’s not winning the long rallies and that’s y he’s trying to keep points short! Rafa is not letting Karen have his way, period!!!
He’s not winning the long rallies because his strategy is wrong. If he was exploiting his edge, he’d be winning a lot more. It’s all mindset.
The great shots come with the right strategy and it looks like Khachanov is finally realising that in set 3. It’s a shame he decided to donate 2 sets first.
Loose tennis from Rafa get broken and not doing enough when he had chances to break back. Karen is hammering the ball but I still feel Rafa can control the momentum if he gets a tad more aggressive.
Precisely!! Rafa’s intensity dropped noticeably in 3rd set, not a surprise, and that’s y there was the break. Rafa simply just let Karen in! If Rafa remains aggressive he’ll be able to keep Karen at bay! In any event, that’s a good match for Rafa!
Khachanov just started playing the way he should’ve from the start; aggressive and physical. As soon as he did that, Nadal was out of his comfort zone
that’s oversimplification. Nadal’s first serve % dropped considerably and he only had 6% unreturned serves in the set compared to 50%, 29% in sets 1 and 2. Of course Karen played better but Rafa had lapses in his own service games.
Winning this in 4 sets will be good preparation for the challenges ahead. He’s played some really good points but overall there is definitely work to be done and Rafa knows that.
By making it physical he stops Nadal from being a show pony which is what he feeds off.
Nadal feeds off attention like he hasn’t eaten in 6 months and has 5 double whoppers in front of him. Take that away from him and he’s vulnerable.
Seriously? How old r u? 14?!
Vamooosssss!!!
Wow! What a beauty! Bravo Rafa!
Vamosss!
5-1 with a blistering forehand CC passing shot! BOOM.
Rafa serving to enter the 4th round.
PHENOMENADAL!
VAMOS!
Rafa donated a set because he is a good guy and he even gave Karen a breadstick to take home.
Vamos! Vamos! Vamos!
“Nadal in 4”
Way to go, Champ! Great aggressive game in the fourth set! That’s what was needed!
Second week that is! One match at the time!
Rafa keeps improving!
Vamos Rafa! 💪💪
Oh yes indeed!!! Happy Friday to me 😀 and of course to all Rafa fans!!
Yes, Rafa was great and I’m looking forward to his next match. And I expect him to improve even more!
Vamos!!
Rafa’s dip in form was always expected at some point this week. It’s good that it only lasted for one set then immediately found another gear.
For now, Nadal is ticking every checkbox and he’ll probably have even less trouble in the next round (might still drop a set). He’ll also meet a more tired opponent.
If Rafa can sustain the level of play that he exhibited in the last set, he’s a serious title contender. Let’s at least hope that he remains injury free.
Amen to that!!! 😀
Bravo Rafa!!😀
It should be remembered that he hardly played last year!
What a competitor he is!
For some reason, I am feeling that having Lopez on the team is a good thing for Rafa…
Yes, having Marc around is great for Rafa. Maybe why he hired him! They’ve been great friends since at least 2009. I remember the days when Marc would move into Rafa’s room and be his hitting partner after losing his doubles match. Those two have been there for each other during some dark times for each of them.
I read an interview with Moya when he was saying that Marc knowing Rafa so well made him a great addition. And then they have played doubles together so Marc really understands his game at an instinctive level.
I absolutely agree that knowing each other so well is good for Rafa. It’s very good to inject fresh energy into the coaching set up as Carlos himself said…
Mannarino has just won the 3rd set. Hoping this one goes to a fifth set breaker..😀😀
I did not get to see the match. I actually was up watching the Berrettini/Alcatraz match. I wanted to get a look at this kid. I haven’t been watching tennis for a while. I did not see the end of it. I woke up this morning and saw the end. Quite the battle. This kid looks like he is going to make some noise in this sport.
I saw that it did take 4 sets for Rafa. But he won and moves on to the fourth round, so many were sure that Karatsev would get through. But right now Mannarino looks like he may do it. That’s why I say not to freak out over the draw because you don’t know if players will get through.
I hope to see a replay of the match today. ESPN replays matches at 2:00 in the afternoon. Right now the tennis channel has a replay of Opelka and Shapo. They replay matches from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm.
I really want to see how Rafa looked. But this is the first quality opponent he faced. Well done Rafa!
Alcaraz!
A very good win for Rafa nny!!😀😀
I am very happy with both his play and how he seems mentally. The latter is as important as the former.
I just looked up the Zverev Shaps h2h.
Shaps has won 2 of the last 3. Zverev won the last time they met but it was very close with 2 tiebreaks.
It could be a long match.
Amy .never seen mannarino play..I just know he took fed to 5 last wimby first round . Is he an unconventional player . These 2 are now almost 4 hrs 45 mns n end of fourth
Well Fed was hardly at his best sanju! I have seen Mannarino play several times. He is like all the French players: talented, maverick, a flair player but not a strong match player.
Mannarino is up a break in the fourth set. I have not seen Karatsev yet. Just hearing a lot about him. I don’t see this match anywhere televised live in the states.
I have to believe that the win over Khachanov will give Rafa confidence going forward. That guy can play him tough and it has to feel good for Rafa to get this win. He needed to play someone good with the game to give him a challenge.
I did not know about the h2h with Zverev and Shapo. That should be a battle. Shapo has had some tough matches in the early going. That’s what used to happen to Zverev.
One match at a time!
Sorry. Anonymous should be me Nativenewyorker.