via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 21, 2022 Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his third round match against Russia’s Karen Khachanov REUTERS/Morgan Sette
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 21, 2022 Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his third round match against Russia’s Karen Khachanov REUTERS/Morgan Sette
20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has made an incredible return to the Tour in 2022 after a long injury layoff. The Spaniard defeated Denis Shapovalov in an epic five-setter bout to reach the semi-final at the Australian Open 2022.
He will face Matteo Berrettini who also won his five-setter quarter-final, against Gael Monfils. Naturally, Nadal knows he is close to potentially securing his 21st Grand Slam. However, his coach Carlos Moya shared how they try not to think too much about the accomplishment.
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Rafael Nadal and his coach avoid thinking about his 21st Grand Slam
Speaking to El Partidazo de COPE, Rafael Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya, addressed the possibility of Nadal winning the Australian Open 2022.
In fact, this would make Rafael Nadal the first men’s player in the Open era to win 21 Grand Slams. As it currently stands, Nadal is tied with Swiss Legend Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at 20 Grand Slam titles apiece.
However, no matter how close the Spaniard gets to making that historical achievement, his coach Carlos Moya reveals that they “don’t talk at all about the 21st Grand Slam”.
🎾 @Charlymoya, entrenador de @RafaelNadal, en @partidazocope
🤩 "Hablamos cero del 21º Grand Slam. Soñar, claro que se sueña"
🏆 "Para mí, el favorito para ganar siempre es @RafaelNadal. El siguiente, por experiencia, @DaniilMedwed"
📻 #PartidazoCOPE https://t.co/IPqlF7eJQw
— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) January 25, 2022
Clearly, the Spanish player-coach duo is afraid of jinxing their shot at history. However, it also shows how focused they are, and how any achievement that Rafa makes comes from a ‘one-match-at-a-time’ mentality.
Nevertheless, “the dream (of the 21st Grand Slam) is always there,” Moya admitted. Furthermore, the 45-year-old coach revealed how Rafa is always his favorite to win any tournament. Thus, the 2022 Australian Open is no exception.
However, on the other hand, he also believes that World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev also has a strong shot. “The next one, for experience, Medvedev,” Moya stated.
Nadal will now cross paths with Matteo Berrettini
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Following his five-set battle against Canadian Denis Shapovalov, Nadal will now meet Italian Matteo Berrettini in the semi-final.
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 25, 2022. Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his quarter-final match against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
Nadal and Berrettini have only met once, which was in 2019. Incidentally, that match too was a semi-final bout, in the US Open, where Rafa emerged victorious in straight sets.
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Who do you think will win the semi-final match between the Spaniard and the Italian? Let us know in the comments.
WATCH THIS STORY: 5 Rafael Nadal Shots That Made Commentators Go Wild at Australian Open 2022
