The Spaniard and the Russian have a date with history this Sunday in Melbourne (from 9:30 a.m. in France).
Nadal to overtake Djokovic and Federer
«I feel very lucky to have won once, said the Spaniard. I never considered having another chance in 2022.” Winner in Melbourne in 2009, Rafael Nadal therefore has a new opportunity to triumph in Australia, thirteen years later. The Mallorcan is aiming for a historic 21st Grand Slam title to overtake Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, in the Major which succeeds him least, he who is undefeated in 13 Roland-Garros finals. In Melbourne, he lost memorable finals in five sets against Djokovic in 2012 and Federer in 2017. He also lost in four sets against Stanislas Wawrinka in 2014 and suffered a defeat in three sets against Djokovic ago. three years. Incidentally, Nadal can also become the second player in the Open era on Sunday, the 4th in history, to have won each of the Majors at least twice. A feat achieved by Djokovic last year when he triumphed at Roland-Garros for the second time.
Read alsoAustralian Open: Rafael Nadal, alone against the youth
Nadal follows in Federer’s footsteps
In 2017, Roger Federer, who returned to the circuit after a six-month back injury, won the Australian Open against all odds (against…Nadal in the final). All at 37 and five years after his last Major title. Like his eternal rival, Nadal, 34, had not played for six months due to a foot injury when he landed in Australia. He, who also suffered from the Covid in December, did not expect to find himself at this stage of the competition. He can now dream of doing Federer’s trick again. Winner of a preparatory tournament in Melbourne to start 2022, he thus continued with six consecutive victories at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
Medvedev one step away from becoming world number one
We can’t stop the world number two, imperial on hard court with 4 finals in the last 6 Grand Slam tournaments played on this surface. Finalist of the last Australian Open (lost to Djokovic) and winner of the US Open (beating Djokovic in the final), Medvedev can legitimately endorse the costume of favorite this Sunday against the living legend Rafael Nadal. In the event of victory against the Spaniard, the Russian will steal the world number one spot from Djokovic. Due to the postponement of the Australian Open in 2021, disputed in February, Medvedev will have to wait a few more weeks to formalize the event. Because since February 2, 2004 and the takeover of Roger Federer, the place of world number one has been monopolized by the members of the Big 4 (Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray).
Read alsoDaniil Medvedev, evil chess player, settles in the big leagues
Medvedev, for another record
“I am happy to have the chance to be able to stop, once again, someone who is writing history“Blowed, mischievous, the most French of Russians. Last September, the world number two prevented Novak Djokovic from achieving the Grand Slam by winning the US Open. This Sunday, he could still play the troublemaker and also make history, becoming the first player in the Open era (since 1968) to win his first two Majors in quick succession. If he wins, Gilles Cervara’s protege can also become the first non-Big 3 to win two consecutive Majors since André Agassi (US Open 1999 and Australian Open 2000).
Read also“What would Novak do in my place?” : Medvedev’s slightly provocative nod to Djokovic after his daunting quarter-final
The 2019 US Open final between the two men was sublime
As in the 2019 US Open, Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal meet in the final. And this showdown has gone down in tennis history. The Spaniard won in 5 sets (7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4) after an epic final that lasted 4:51. The public at the Rod Laver Arena and tennis fans are dreaming of a new anthology final. The Mallorcan has won three of his four duels against the Russian. But apart from their first duel, largely won by Nadal in the Toronto 2019 final, the other three confrontations were particularly indecisive.
