Olympic runner-up Khachanov had lost all seven previous meetings with 2009 Australian Open champion Nadal but briefly looked capable of mounting a comeback. The Spaniard, seeking to claim a record 21st Grand Slam title in the absence of great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, was sensational, as he took a two-set lead.īut Khachanov, seeded 28th, threw caution to the wind in the third set, stalling Nadal's charge with some ferocious hitting. Sixth seed Rafa Nadal dropped his first set at this year's Australian Open but still powered through to the fourth round with a 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1 defeat of Karen Khachanov on Friday. Ricky contributes to and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. In a best-of-five situation, the 14th-ranked Canadian should have the upper hand late in the proceedings. But Shapovalov was a semifinalist at Wimbledon last summer and he is more likely to continue his Grand Slam success Down Under. Like most contests involving the 6’11” American, this one could go either way. Opelka is looking good with straight-set defeats of Kevin Anderson and Dominik Koepfer–requiring only two tiebreakers in the process. It is no surprise that their only previous meeting went to a third-set tiebreaker, won by Shapovalov 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6) at 2017 Queen’s Club qualifying. Shapovalov played three of them against Soonwoo Kwon during a five-set victory on Wednesday and Opelka’s game style is obviously such that service breaks are few and far between. Tiebreakers can be expected to rule the day when Shapovalov and Opelka collide for the second time in their careers. Pick: Nadal in 4 Denis Shapovalov of Canada serves during the Men’s singles match against Laslo Djere of Serbia on Day 1 of the Australian Open, at Melbourne Park, in Melbourne, Australia, 17 January 2022. ![]() Expect a competitive contest, but there is no reason to think Nadal is bowing out at this point of the event. The 30th-ranked Russian is the kind of player that can give Nadal problems and their set scores have actually been close for the most part even though the Spaniard has taken almost every one. Khachanov held off Denis Kudla in a fourth-set tiebreaker before easing past Benjamin Bonzi 6-4, 6-0, 7-5 on Wednesday. The 20-time Grand Slam champion triumphed at the Melbourne 250 and so far this fortnight has erased Marcos Giron and Jannick Hanffman in straight sets. ![]() They have not squared off since 2019, when Nadal prevailed in a pair of tiebreakers at the Indian Wells Masters before getting the job done 6-3, 7-6(7) in the Davis Cup Finals.Īfter missing the last three months of 2021 because of a foot injury, Nadal is off to a roaring start this season. The 35-year-old is 16-1 lifetime in total sets at Khachanov’s expense. All seven of their previous encounters have gone Nadal’s way, to the extent that this is one of the most lopsided matchups on tour right now. ![]() Nadal and Khachanov will be going head-to-head for the eighth time in their careers when they clash in round three of the Australian Open on Friday. Here are my previews and picks for two of the third-round matchups on Day 5 of the year’s first Grand Slam. A blockbuster slate of matches in the top half of the bracket also includes Denis Shapovalov, who is going up against Reilly Opelka. Rafael Nadal will face familiar foe Karen Khachanov in round three of the Australian Open on Friday. Rafael Nadal of Spain plays Marcos Giron of the United States in their first round match on Day 1 of the Australian Open tennis tournament, at Melbourne Park, in Melbourne, Australia, 17 January 2022. Queen’s Club Draws and Schedule for Sunday, June 19th, 2022.10sBalls Shares Ricky’s picks for this week’s ATP Tennis in Mallorca and Eastbourne.Eastbourne International ATP and WTA Draws and Schedule for Monday, June 20th, 2022.Mallorca Championships Draws and Schedule for Monday, June 20th, 2022.Wimbledon 2022 is underway as qualifying begins at Roehampton.Wimbledon Qualifying Draws and Schedule for Monday, June 20th, 2022.Mallorca Championships Draws and Schedule for Tuesday, June 21st, 2022.Eastbourne International ATP and WTA Draws and Schedule for Tuesday, June 21st, 2022.Wimbledon Qualifying Draws and Schedule for Tuesday, June 21st, 2022.Chrissie Evert Discusses Cancer Battle on HBO’s Real Sports Tonight.Djokovic and Nadal Are Top Two Wimbledon Seeds. ![]()
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