Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal – Quarter-Final – Preview & Prediction | 2022 Australian Open
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal on and what time does it start? Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal will take place on Tuesday 25th January, 2022 – not before 03:00 (UK)
Where is Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal taking place? Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal being played on? Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal
What channel is Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal on in the UK? Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Denis Shapovalov vs Rafael Nadal live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
DENIS SHAPOVALOV
World number 14 Denis Shapovalov has improved with each passing round of the Australian Open but he was aided by a lacklustre showing from third seed Alexander Zverev on Sunday in a straight-sets victory. The 22-year-old made the semi-finals of Wimbledon last season to set by far his best run at a major but one more win can see him match it despite winning just one career ATP title on tour. The Canadian is riding a seven-match winning streak from the ATP Cup that he won at the start of the year as part of Team Canada.
RAFAEL NADAL
World number five Rafael Nadal beat Adrian Mannarino in straight sets on Sunday but the first set especially was a high-quality battle from both men that ended 16-14 in the tiebreak. 20-time Grand Slam champion Nadal has dropped just one set so far to Karen Khachanov in the third round as he reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the sixth-straight season. The Spaniard won Melbourne 1 two weeks ago to take a seven-match winning streak into this exciting clash with Denis Shapovalov.
THE PREDICTION
Matches between Nadal and Shapovalov are always good value and the narrative will always start with the fact that the Canadian basically announced himself to the world back in 2017 when he beat Nadal as a teenage prospect at the Canadian Open. The pair have shared sets in two of their four matches but Nadal has won each of the last three to lead their head-to-head record 3-1 and he is likely to be able to find a way through here over five sets. Shapovalov is a maverick capable of unplayable tennis in short bursts and there is likely one or even two sets in this for him but Nadal’s elite experience should pull through – just as Novak Djokovic eventually ended the Canadian’s run at Wimbledon last season. Take Nadal to win outright, with the riskier move Nadal to win and both players to take a set.
