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Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rafael Nadal Tips - Sensational Nadal to win in straight sets
- Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rafael Nadal predictions for Wednesday’s Australian Open quarterfinal match
- 7th meeting between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal
- Nadal leads head to head 6-1
- Stats, preview, predictions and player news
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Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rafael Nadal Tips
5th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on world no.2 Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Wednesday.
No matter the outcome of this match, Tsitsipas is the future of tennis. Still only 22, his potential is frightening, and the only thing that could stop Tsitsipas becoming one of the biggest stars in global sport is injury.
All that said, there is an already established global icon standing in his way, and once again Nadal is playing sensational tennis.
The 34-year old Spaniard is yet to drop a set in Melbourne, and brushed aside his toughest challenge, old foe Fabio Fognini in straights sets on Monday. Meanwhile Tsitsipas had to stay in his hotel room instead of play as his 4th round opponent Matteo Berrettini withdrew from the event injured.
Had Tsitsipas endured a tough challenge from Berrettini and emerged victorious, it likely would have affected my prediction. However as it stands, I have to favour Nadal to take this match. What’s more, similarly to their 2019 meeting here, I can’t see him giving Tsitsipas a set.
- Nadal chasing a record 21st Grand Slam title
- Nadal chasing 2nd Australian Open title
- Nadal has not dropped a set so far in Melbourne
- Tsitsipas a semifinalist at Australian and French Opens
- Tsitsipas 2019 ATP Finals champion
- Tsitsipas has dropped one set en route to the quarter-finals
Head to Head
Rafael Nadal leads the head to head with Stefanos Tsitsipas by 6-1. Tsitsipas’s lone victory came at the 2019 Madrid Masters on clay, him winning 6-4 2-6 6-3. Since then Nadal has won three times, most recently at the ATP Finals in London last November.
On that occasion, both men played sensational tennis to split the first two sets before Nadal raised his level even further to take the third 6-2. The only time Nadal and Tsitsipas have previously met in Melbourne was in the 2019 semifinals, where Nadal won 6-2 6-4 6-0.
Stefanos Tsitsipas Form
After breezing through his first round match against Giles Simon, 5th seed Tsitsipas survived a tremendous five-set challenge from Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia in the second round.
Aside from the Kokkinakis match, Tsitispas hasn’t dropped a set. He was due to face the dangerous 9th seed Matteo Berrettini in the fourth round, but the Italian withdrew with an injury.
Nevertheless, Tsitsipas is playing at as high a level as we have seen of him, as good as what took him to the semis here in 2019, and also the semifinals at the French Open last year.
Rafael Nadal Form
No.2 seed Nadal has been my pick to win in Australia since he was victorious at Roland Garros last year.
That was when it became clear that his training regime at his academy on the Balearic island of Manacor with coach Carlos Moya seems superior to anything other players are doing to prepare for lockdown tennis.
Nadal invited rising young stars Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, Italian Lorenzo Sonego and Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori to train with him at his academy in December, and that is why he didn’t need to play a warm-up event in January.
Instead Rafa hit the ground running, and just as at Roland Garros last October, he has cruised through his opening four round matches without the loss of a set.
Even old sparring partner Fabio Fognini had no answer to Nadal’s intensity, power and quickness about the court, surrendering meekly 6-3 6-4 6-2 in Monday’s last-16 match.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rafael Nadal FAQ
When is the Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rafael Nadal match taking place?
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rafael Nadal takes place at 7:30 PM (AEDT) on Wednesday, February 17.
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Verdict
Any sport would love to have Stefanos Tsitsipas. He might be a 6’6” Adonis with movie-star looks, but he is humble and charming in his interviews, the perfect global ambassador for tennis. His time will surely, come, but unfortunately, not at this year’s Australian Open.
In his current form and mindset, only a fit Roger Federer might have threatened Nadal, and great as Tsitsipas is, he’s not at that level yet. Rafael Nadal wins this match in straight sets.
In his current form and mindset, only a fit Roger Federer might have threatened Nadal, and great as Tsitsipas is, he’s not at that level yet. Rafael Nadal wins this match in straight sets.
