Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper – First Round – Preview & Prediction | 2023 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper on and what time does it start? Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper will take place on Monday 16th January, 2023 – not before 03:30 (UK)
Where is Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper taking place? Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper being played on? Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper
What channel is Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper on in the UK? Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
World number two Rafael Nadal started last season as an injury doubt after foot surgery with little-to-no chance of making the Australian Open final but the Spaniard went on to make history with a record-breaking 21st Men’s Grand Slam title won here from two sets down in a five-set thriller against Daniil Medvedev. That win was part of an incredible 20-match winning streak that saw him take further titles in Melbourne and Acapulco before finishing runner-up, injured, to Taylor Fritz at Indian Wells. The 36-year-old then re-gathered momentum in time to take a truly unassailable 14th Roland-Garros trophy in Paris, extending his major record, before injury saw him drop out of the semi-finals at Wimbledon. Nadal has undergone further surgery on his troublesome, incurable foot condition, but a four-set exit to Frances Tiafoe at the US Open was the last time we saw the Spaniard near a working level by his high standards.
THE PREDICTION
Rafael Nadal lost both of his United Cup matches to enter Melbourne without a win since his only ATP Finals victory over Casper Ruud on the 17th November. Remarkably, the defending champion stands even less chance of reaching the Australian Open final than this time last season but underestimate him at your peril. This, however, is a truly awful draw for the Spaniard. World number 40 Jack Draper is a rising star facing the biggest match of his career with nothing to lose from going all out on his Australian Open debut. The 21-year-old beat three top players in Lorenzo Sonego, Tommy Paul and Karen Khachanov this week in Adelaide before dropping the ball, perhaps understandably given this draw, against Soonwoo Kwon and he beat three top 10 players last season in Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Taylor Fritz. Perhaps most importantly, the big-serving left-hander should get a lot of joy on one of Nadal’s favoured weapons, with his whippy forehand often utilised to great effect against right-handers.
It would be unwise, historically, to go against Nadal at a Grand Slam but this could end up the shock of the first round. It has happened before here with then world number 45 Fernando Verdasco, also a left-hander, stunning his fellow Spaniard in five sets in the first round. The suitably cautious move is taking Nadal to win at least two sets but it could be worth a one-off on Draper to change his life with a win.
