Rafael Nadal will take on mercurial Italian Fabio Fognini for a spot in the Australian Ope quarterfinals on Monday afternoon. Meanwhile Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini get night-session treatment in the fourth round.
(2) Rafael Nadal vs. (16) Fabio Fognini
Rafael Nadal and Fabio Fognini are ages 34 and 33, respectively, both seasoned veterans of the tour. As such, they have already played 16 times since 2013. And while Nadal has won 12 of their meetings and holds a 6-1 record on hard courts, Fognini doesn’t seem to lack belief when he steps on the court against Nadal. It’s usually his game itself that lets the Italian down.
Fognini’s single hard-court victory over the Spaniard was also his most notable win–he pulled off the upset at the 2015 U.S. Open, a match in which Nadal led two sets to love. Two of Fognini’s other wins also came in 2015. That wouldn’t necessarily be notable except that 2015 was one of the worst seasons of Nadal’s professional career.
Nadal has been battling lower-back pain since he arrived in Australia three weeks ago. Despite a modified service motion, the world No. 2 had a relatively uneventful path to the fourth round. Fognini, however, got caught in a four-hour, five-set marathon with countryman Salvatore Caruso, a match which ended with an argument so heated that a tournament official felt it necessary to step between the two men.
Fognini is unpredictable, both in temperament and with his game. At any given time, it’s hard for his opponents to predict whether he will play brilliantly or spray unforced errors around for an hour. He came out of nowhere to defeat Nadal on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo in 2019, but he was back to his losing ways by the time they met in Canada later that summer.
Given the surface and a matchup that favors Nadal’s consistency, the Spaniard should make his way into the quarters.
Cheryl pick: Nadal in 4
Ricky pick: Nadal in 4
(5) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. (9) Matteo Berrettini
This is perhaps the most appealing of all the men’s fourth round matches. Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is ranked No. 6 in the world, is still waiting for his first big Grand Slam title. The young Greek has made inroads in Melbourne before, coming somewhat out of nowhere to reach the semifinals in 2019, a run during which he dispatched Roger Federer. He was eventually shellacked by Nadal in the semis.
Matteo Berrettini broke through in 2019–a year which began, ironically, with a first-round encounter at the Australian Open against none other than Tsitsipas. Berrettini, but it was anything but a routine, as Tsitsipas squeaked out a tight four-setter.
Berrettini has played well in Australia. The Italian reeled off ATP Cup wins over Dominic Thiem, Gael Monfils, and Roberto Bautista Agut before losing to Daniil Medvedev. He dropped a set to qualifier Tomas Machac, but his straight-set wins over Kevin Anderson and Karen Khachanov were convincing. Tsitispas had a bruising five-setter in the second round against Thanasi Kokkinakis but sailed through his other two matches.
This one should be a treat to watch. Both men are motivated and playing well. Expect a tightly contested fight with Tsitsipas just edging out Berrettini.
Cheryl pick: Tsitsipas in 5
Ricky pick: Tsitsipas in 4
Nadal in 4
Tsitsipas in 4
Tpas vs Btini definitely a popcorn match…..Btini in a very close 4. Rafa shines thru Fog in 3.
WWW?
(also Berrettini may not be 100 percent?)
Stay focused, remain confident and be strong, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuNwbNbXUAEJPGe?format=jpg
Nadal has a fitness edge so this should be a comfortable 3-4 sets.
Tsitsipas v Berrettini is a tough one. Could go either way. Probably a 5-setter.
Berretini has got a name like a gun and his game reflects that ..
How could u guys sleep when Rafa is playing the Fpg?
I am not asleep! At last a match that I can see. It’s going on 1:00 am here but that’s a lot better than trying to watch in the wee hours!
Lol, the match started here at midnight but i was very nervous. I was sleeping and all of a sudden i just woke up and i thought, damn! But Rafa is not up 2 set to the good so lets c if he can out this to bed so we can all go to bed. lol!!
By the way these commentators r really getting on my nerves!! They are so itching for an upset it’s not funny! If Fabio did this and if Fabio did that! Oh it can still go to a fifth, blah blah blah!!
I was ready to mute the sound because of the commentators! They were just so annoying! Rafa shut them up by playing some great tennis! This was the first match that made me nervous. Fog is a step up from the other three guys. This was a test and Rafa passed with flying colors!
I am SO proud of Rafa! He looked really happy after the match! He said the back is holding up! He has really stayed strong.
Rafa is in the quarterfinals! Way to go!
😍
Not asleep; it’s day time here. I watched the whole match; Rafa played well except that his first serve % needed improvement.
I’m just glad Rafa didn’t need to go to a fourth set; good win for Rafa, Tsitsipas next.
Yes! Great match, Rafa! Beautiful shots!
Very proud of him!
Vamos!
Fantastic Rafa! Glad i woke up to watch! Wishing you continued success, vamos!
Berrettini withdraws. Another one.
So he had abdominal strain n pulls out but novak with ab muscle tear can miraculously play..novak shld teach others too how he manages unreal things lol..then he says he does not get respect…if he behaves this way being no 1..how can he expect respect ..people can’t see through all of this ?
He himself declared its muscle tear..then says he did a mri n does not want to say what it is..why did u say it’s muscle tear in first place ? Wanted too much attention ?
Every one is in agreement that a person with muscle tear cannot move the way novak did yest
N here he is talking of media bias
https://mobile.twitter.com/Tennis_Majors/status/1361039727311400965
Yes, people CAN see through Djoker’s histrionics. Except for the molefarm, of course. Really, considering his horrible parents, who have spent his entire life telling him he’s God’s gift to the world, he’s not THAT bad. Just a little annoying, well, ok, sometimes a LOT annoying!
Glad I’m not the only one that can see that! His father is a nasty win-at-all-costs type. His mother only cares for her young, everyone else can go get stuffed.
WAhooo! Big grats to all the Rafans! I haven’t seen the match yet. Went to bed at 11 pm before it started but I woke at 3 am and HAD to check the score. So happy and so grateful for all the positive comments here. Thanks guys. Wonderful job by Rafa, hanging tough and handling his back problem so well. No drama, no complaints, just facts with a smile. “Try my best.” What a champion he is!
Too bad about Berretini. Really, haven’t there been more injuries than usual? I know the AO did the best they could under really horrible circumstances but it wasn’t proper slam prep.
Just watched the highlights in youtube (homeoftennis), one would think it was Fognini that played better and won when he actually lost in straight sets…
Bravo darling rafa!!😀
Foggy is no joke and has pushed all the top players at one time or another!
This is also presumably great news about the back??
I actually haven’t been able to see the match and was very nervous when I opened this thread to find out what had happened.
But I had to find out from the great rafans here!!!😀😀
Vamos Rafa and Tenngranders!
Why do you open to read comments to know result Amy..google is faster naa..just type Nadal
Yes rafa was good..second was bit tricky. He was down 42 but broke back
Thoughts on tsitsi ?
Rafa has a commanding head to head sanju. 6-1 with his only loss ironically coming on clay when out of form. So Tsitsi has never beaten him on a hard court. And that includes 2 wins at the atp year finals! That’s a good set of stats for rafa.
Will having a four day break necessarily help Tsitsi? It can be a disadvantage.
Yes my only worry is if it’s a long 4 or 5 setter as Rafa said himself he’s not match fit because of no practice
Don’t worry Sanju, Rafa will find the stamina!! Vamos!!
Fognini has never beaten an all singing all dancing Nadal. Fog beat him 3 times in 2015 when Rafa had his worst form on tour and lost to just about everyone. Then in MC 2019 Rafa also had issues, articulated by Moya who said they had to work of Rafa’s mental state not to get too down about his frequent injuries at the beginning of 2019.