After an exciting first week at the Australian Open, the quarterfinals are set. There are plenty of alluring match-ups in the third-to-last round but there is one in particular that is begging to be hyped up…
Rafael Nadal versus Denis Shapovalov.
Here’s everything you need to know before the two lock horns.
Rafael Nadal vs Denis Shapovalov
Steady Shapo
Shapovalov struggled in his earlier rounds dropping four sets in total, two of which came against Kwon Soon-woo. Though he survived, he just as easily could be out of the tournament by now.
Fortunately for the mercurial Canadian, he found his best tennis against Alexander Zverev. Though the German continued his trend of poor form against top-ranked opponents at the majors, his forehand loopier and slower than usual and his second-serve failing him, Shapovalov showed a new-found restraint to come through in straight sets.
- Used blocked returns to put a high percentage back into play, trusting in his mid-rally groundstrokes to get him up in the point.
- Was much more level with his backhand, aiming for safe yet aggressive spots to finish the point with a following forehand.
He also used his swinging lefty serve and forehand to win points consistently on serve.
Though this is unlikely to work to the same effect on fellow-lefty Nadal, Denis Shapovalov is looking better than ever.
Rafa in Oz
Nadal has rolled through his first four rounds dropping just one set to Karen Khachanov.
Hardly surprising. Though Nadal came up against stern competition, the Spaniard has a knack for rolling through opponents outside of the Top 20, sporting a 55-2 record against them at the Australian Open. In fact, he’s only ever been knocked out before the quarterfinals three times!
Early losses have never been a problem Down Under–it’s in the second week of Nadal’s statistically worst Slam where the damage has been done.
- Having sustained seven losses to six wins, the Australian Open quarterfinal is Nadal’s worst round of any Slam.
- Nadal is a middling 18-13 to top-20 opponents (however he has only lost twice to opponents ranked 11-20).
The point? When Nadal has come up against quality at the Happy Slam, he has often come out the loser.
Day Session
For the first time in his last six appearances, Nadal is playing his quarterfinal during the day. The unique amount of spin Nadal puts on his forehand means he prefers to hit the ball from a height and prefers his balls to bounce higher. At night, the conditions dampen this effect – his results in quarterfinals at the Australian Open have consequently followed a trend.
- Day session quarterfinals at Australian Open won: 2/3
- Night session quarterfinals at Australian Open won: 3/10
Nadal’s fate at the Australian Open doesn’t solely rest on the time he plays his matches but it undeniably gives him a slight advantage or disadvantage either way.
Shapovalov dealt with similar conditions very well at the Rome Masters last year so it may be something he can cope with…
Tune in after 14:00 ACT to find out how these factors affect the match!
Main Photo from Getty.
