MELBOURNE, Australia – Rafael Nadal is just one win away from his 21st Grand Slam singles title.
The 35-year-old Spaniard qualified for the final of the Australian Open for the sixth time with 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 over the Italian series Matteo Beretini, who was seventh.
He will have to beat defending US Open champion Daniil Medvedev on Sunday to make history.
Medvedev, on the other hand, continues his own quest for a piece of tennis history after winning the last five games to beat Stefanos Tsitispa 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a passionate half. -final. His goal is to become the first male player of the professional season to win the second Grand Slam title in the next big tournament.
Medvedev, second, went through a lot of emotions to qualify for the second consecutive final of the Australian Open. He had to face a hostile crowd in his second-round victory over Nick Kyrgios, he had to save the match and come out of a two-set deficit to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in a quarter-final almost five hours and he had to regain his composure. of him after an outburst of anger against the referee on Friday.
He shouted at the referee of the chair, Jaume Campistol, after he lost a serve in the second set, demanding that Tsitsipas be warned because he took advice from his father in the crowd. He took a five-minute break after giving the set, regaining control at the end of the third set and then dominating the last five games, when Tsitsipas finally received a yellow card for being dragged from the stands.
Nadal was relieved
Nadal’s journey to a 29th Grand Slam final was relatively smooth.
After the last point, he stopped, smiled broadly and then raised his fist in the air three times.
Nadal arrived in Australia with suspicions after a break of several months due to a serious leg injury and then a COVID-19 episode. He lost to Wimbledon after losing in the semifinals of the French Open to Novak Djokovic and did not play at all after August.
“Every day was a problem with foot problems. Doubts still exist … probably for the rest of my career because I have what I have and it is something we can not cure, Nadal commented. But for me, it’s amazing … (to) just play and play high level tennis again, against the best players on the planet. »
Last month, he was not even sure he could return to the circuit. But he won a warm-up tournament in Melbourne to start in 2022 and won six consecutive games in the first Grand Slam of the year.
Another victory and will improve the record of 20 important titles shared with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Nadal would also become the fourth player to win all four Grand Slam titles at least twice.
Date with history
Nadal’s victory over Wimbledon runner-up Berrettini under the indoor roof of Rod Laver Stadium due to heavy rain was his 500th on hard courts. He has only won the Australian Open once, in 2009.
The addition of a second was his only goal after another victory in the semifinals.
“For me, the Australian Open means a lot,” Nadal said in a televised interview on the pitch. I was a little unlucky (here) in my career with a few injuries. I played incredible finals with good chances. »
He lost an unforgettable final five sets in Melbourne to Djokovic in 2012 and Federer in 2017. Nadal also lost four sets to Stanislas Vavrinka in 2014 and lost three sets to Djokovic three years ago.
“I feel very lucky to have won once,” he added. “I never thought I would have another chance in 2022.”
Nadal broke Berettini’s serve from the start in the first two sets and, after losing the third set in a rare break, concentrated on finishing the match in less than three hours. . That in itself was a relief after his five-set victory over Denis Shapovalov two days earlier in the quarterfinals.
Nadal was the only member of the famous “Big Three” who this time has the opportunity to escape the impasse in Australia.
Federer is out of Australia as he continues his recovery from knee surgery. Djokovic, who won nine Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park, was expelled from the country after an 11-day visa on the eve of the tournament for failing to meet Australia’s strict COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
“Being able to be where I am today, I really can not explain in words how important it is for me in terms of energy, personal satisfaction, recognition,” said Nadal. For me it is something completely unexpected, so I am very happy.
“For me, it is a gift to be here and play tennis. »
He also explained that he had a different approach to his preparation, but could not really change his approach on the pitch.
“It simply came to our notice then. Of course always in the spirit of competition I have, because I can not do otherwise. It’s in my DNA. But being exactly who I am and being able to have the opportunity to fight at this level is a positive energy for me to keep going. »
Medvedev will have to take a calmer approach after beating Tsitsipas in the semifinals for the second year in a row in Melbourne. He lost to Djokovic in last year’s final, but then won the No. 1 in the world to win the US Open title.
“I will play again against one of the big ones,” Medvedev said of Sunday’s final. Again, I will meet someone looking for a 21st Slam. I’m ready. »
