Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal – Semi-Final – Preview & Prediction | 2022 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal on and what time does it start? Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal will take place on Friday 28th January, 2022 – not before 03:30 (UK)
Where is Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal taking place? Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal being played on? Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal
What channel is Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal on in the UK? Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
MATTEO BERRETTINI
25-year-old Matteo Berrettini is through to the third semi-final of his career after a stunning five-set victory over in-form Gael Monfils. World number seven Berrettini reached this stage of the US Open in 2019 by beating Monfils, also in five sets, before losing to eventual champion, and his next Melbourne opponent, Rafael Nadal but he went one better last season by reaching a first final in a four-set defeat to Novak Djokovic. The Italian won his first ATP 500 event last season at Queen’s Club for one of his total five career ATP titles.
RAFAEL NADAL
Former world number one Rafael Nadal is through to the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the 36th time after a five-set battle with Denis Shapovalov on Tuesday. The 35-year-old looks up to speed and energised in time for his toughest battle yet since coming back from injury and his record at this stage of a Grand Slam is 28-7. 20-time Grand Slam champion Nadal has reached the finals here in Melbourne on five previous occasions, winning his only title here in 2009.
THE PREDICTION
Rafael Nadal was the winner the only previous time he met Matteo Berrettini with a straight-sets result at the same stage of the US Open in 2019 before he defeated Daniil Medvedev in five sets to win his 19th Grand Slam title. This match promises to be a lot closer but given Nadal’s body has held up remarkably well, and that Berrettini has never beaten him or Novak Djokovic as active members of the ‘Big 3’, this still feels like going the Spaniard’s way. There are probably four or even five sets in this one but with the majority of the crowd behind Nadal, both for his own legacy and that of his potential for going out ahead in the Grand Slams record at Djokovic’s expense, the reasonable option is an outright pick for former world number one. Nadal to win and both players to take at least a set could be a useful combination.
