Australian Open 2022 Final: Rafael Nadal vs Daniil Medvedev

[junior74]

Medvedev in 4. He seems physically and mentally very confident now.

BS Russian may be re-coined BC Russian (Boa Constrictor Russian)

I think Rafa will strut from the start, but Medvedev will read in and make Rafa work more than he is able to at this stage in his career.

 

[NeutralFan]

Nadal owns the head to head though

Cool bro . Just don't hide after gaslighting us about Rafa's easy peasy victory.

 

[weakera]

Nadal owns the head to head though

They do have a weird history though. Last three matches were total coinflips.

 

[NeutralFan]

They do have a weird history though. Last three matches were total coinflips.

What's your prediction ?

 

[Yugram]

Let's see what happens. It really is crucial for Med to win one of the first two sets though!

May the best man win!!

Nothing of what I’ve seen from Medvedev during this tournament alarms that he can take the racquet out of Nadal’s hands. But if Nadal is bound to have a slump, Medvedev surely will capitalise. Best opportunist out of the younger players, in a good sense.

 

[aman92]

Cool bro . Just don't hide after gaslighting us about Rafa's easy peasy victory.

Lol.. Am I predicting that? Stop trying to act like StrongRule 2.0

 

[weakera]

What's your prediction ?

I shared my thoughts in the other thread, Nadal in 5, although I concede some hopeful optimism is influencing my call.

 

[NeutralFan]

Lol.. Am I predicting that? Stop trying to act like StrongRule 2.0

Many Rafa fans were acting as a given. Look if it was US open i would have bet my house on Rafa. Make a prediction ?

 

[alexio]

four threads about one final match at the same time, lol probably it's the record in the history of ttw

 

[mike danny]

This would be an easy pick if Nadal wasn't nearly 36.

Fed pulled a miracle 5 years ago, don't feel Nadal is up for the task if Med plays like today.

 

[aman92]

They do have a weird history though. Last three matches were total coinflips.

Yeah but don't understand how people think its a bad matchup for Nadal? Med struggles with variety and has never dominated Nadal in any of his matches. His biggest asset would be that he has greater endurance than a 35.5 year old Nadal but no reason why Nadal’s chances are being written off

 

[weakera]

This would be an easy pick if Nadal wasn't nearly 36.

Fed pulled a miracle 5 years ago, don't feel Nadal is up for the task if Med plays like today.

That was a low-quality final. Nadal faces a tougher test than himself in that AO17 final.

 

[aman92]

Many Rafa fans were acting as a given. Look if it was US open i would have bet my house on Rafa. Make a prediction ?

Already made in other thread... Logically I think Med takes it but somehow feel that stars will align for Rafa and he takes it in 4

 

[mike danny]

We shall see which one survives. I was first, though. Right after the Match Point.

I think I was first actually. Right before the MP.

 

[NeutralFan]

Yeah but don't understand how people think its a bad matchup for Nadal? Med struggles with variety and has never dominated Nadal in any of his matches. His biggest asset would be that he has greater endurance than a 35.5 year old Nadal but no reason why Nadal’s chances are being written off

Well, he's a great defensive baseliner with no weakness , got a big serve ,good return . apart from his return position what Rafa can exploit?

 

[weakera]

Yeah but don't understand how people think its a bad matchup for Nadal? Med struggles with variety and has never dominated Nadal in any of his matches. His biggest asset would be that he has greater endurance than a 35.5 year old Nadal but no reason why Nadal’s chances are being written off

Medvedev just looks like a tough puzzle to solve. But I do think Nadal has the slice, variety and potentially now big serve to pull it off.

 

[alexio]

I think I was first actually. Right before the MP.

you were the first by just one minute faster than two other threads

 

[NeutralFan]

Already made in other thread... Logically I think Med takes it but somehow feel that stars will align for Rafa and he takes it in 4

This AO felt so close yet soo far with Med hitting the form again ( FAA gave me the false hope )

 

[Yugram]

I think I was first actually. Right before the MP.

Well, I think match threads shouldn’t be created before the last point. At least I remember that RG 2020 Final thread was deleted for that.

 

[mike danny]

That was a low-quality final. Nadal faces a tougher test than himself in that AO17 final.

Meh, 2017 Fed probably beats this Med in 4.

And 2017 Fed had the tougher draw by far. It's not just about the final.

 

[NeutralFan]

Medvedev just looks like a tough puzzle to solve. But I do think Nadal has the slice, variety and potentially now big serve to pull it off.

Only thing that worry me is Med serve botting and Nadal returning from deep and then Nadal will have to worry about his own service game. if he can return well, it's game on.

 

[20 20 20]

Nadal gonna pepper his backhanded like he did against berry and it's gonna work too, you heard it here first

 

[Picmun]

I posted first. This should be the main thread.

LOL !

 

[weakera]

Meh, 2017 Fed probably beats this Med in 4.

And 2017 Fed had the tougher draw by far. It's not just about the final.

Hahaha. Federer's conga line of personal pigeons was tough, love that meme.

 

[NeutralFan]

Rafa fans will you prefer a 2019 like beatdown or 2012 or 2017 type close match ?

 

[weakera]

Only thing that worry me is Med serve botting and Nadal returning from deep and then Nadal will have to worry about his own service game. if he can return well, it's game on.

For me biggest key is the Nadal serve. Other than two-set physical lapse vs. Shapovalov, there has been barely a sniff on the Nadal serve this tournament. He is averaging a faster 2nd serve this tournament than Medvedev or Berrettini. Needs to keep that up or go even bigger.

 

[aman92]

LOL !

The war before the war on TTW

 

[mike danny]

Well, I think match threads shouldn’t be created before the last point. At least I remember that RG 2020 Final thread was deleted for that.

I had to be quick. And besides Meddy was up 40-0. He wasn't losing that one. I pressed the post button seconds before Med finished the match.

 

[Sabrina]

Rafa fans will you prefer a 2019 like beatdown or 2012 or 2017 type close match ?

Of course 2019. 2012 and 2017 were much more painful. I didn't feel anything after that 2019 F at all.

 

[Yugram]

I think I was first actually. Right before the MP.

Let’s see what mods decide. If no judgment is made by the end of the day, I’ll request a delete of mine.

 

[20 20 20]

I think I was first actually. Right before the MP.

Lol you should not have revealed that

 

[mike danny]

Hahaha. Federer's conga line of personal pigeons was tough, love that meme.

So you disagree with Fed having the tougher draw? On what basis?

 

[Picmun]

The war before the war on TTW

Someone said their are FOUR threads - This place ! Soooo FUNNY !

 

[NeutralFan]

For me biggest key is the Nadal serve. Other than two-set physical lapse vs. Shapovalov, there has been barely a sniff on the Nadal serve this tournament. He is averaging a faster 2nd serve this tournament than Medvedev or Berrettini. Needs to keep that up or go even bigger.

Well, that doesn't matter since Nadal didn't face an elite baseliner who can return and frustrate Nadal. There will be break of serve and question is can Nadal get in to Dani's service game . If he returns like he did against Berettini in first two sets , Nadal will have his chances but if he goes defensive with short return , it's game over.

 

[mike danny]

Lol you should not have revealed that

I lost to others in the past exactly that way.

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

It’s all about matchups. Rafa will always be a tougher matchup for med than Nole is. Nadal has more variety as others have said these days, the topspin, lefty and his serve improved by leaps and bounds from last year

 

[weakera]

So you disagree with Fed having the tougher draw? On what basis?

Mischa Zverev, dude. That draw was honestly mediocre to worse. And both Nadal and Federer's form in that tournament are way overrated. Nadal barely scraped by against baby Sascha, and Dimitrov, and then almost won the title anyway.

 

[Genie Of the Bank]

Rafa in 4 sets if his body allow it or Dani in 5 set finisher of the match.

 

[NeutralFan]

Of course 2019. 2012 and 2017 were much more painful. I didn't feel anything after that 2019 F at all.

Same here , after first set outcome was visible.

 

[RS]

I think Med has a small edge

 

[Kralingen]

Biggest key to the match is Rafa's serve. He will have break chances against Medvedev simply because he's Rafa, the greatest returner in history. But can he limit chances for Medvedev like he did in the beginning and end of the QF/SF when he smothered Shapo and Bert?

Is he now! This is news to me.

Basically Nadal is going to have to avoid the USO ‘21 dynamic where he has to work twice as hard to hold serve than Med who was cruising through service games does. It will have to be an aggressive and clutch Nadal who wins this, no other version is capable.

 

[checkmilu]

Nadal looked really tired from the 3rd set. He won because Berry keep hitting UEs o easy fh in the 4th. Nadal has to beat Med in straight sets or he will lose. The younger players can last longer physically. As strongest player in history as Nadal is showing his age. Med can just be as consistent as he can and grind out Nadal to win in 5.

 

[mike danny]

Mischa Zverev, dude. That draw was honestly mediocre to worse. And both Nadal and Federer's form in that tournament are way overrated. Nadal barely scraped by against baby Sascha, and Dimitrov, and then almost won the title anyway.

That's so shallow. Fed beat 4 top 10 players at 35.5. You don't want me to mention Berrettini and Mannarino now, do you?

That draw was one of the toughest for this era, nowhere near mediocre. What would you call Nadal's current draw, then?

 

[weakera]

Is he now! This is news to me.

Basically Nadal is going to have to avoid the USO ‘21 dynamic where he has to work twice as hard to hold serve than Med who was cruising through service games does. It will have to be an aggressive and clutch Nadal who wins this, no other version is capable.

It's a statistical fact. Shouldn't be news to anyone.

 

[weakera]

That's so shallow. Fed beat 4 top 10 players at 35.5. You don't want me to mention Berrettini and Mannarino now, do you?

That draw was one of the toughest for this era, nowhere near mediocre. What would you call Nadal's current draw, then?

Mannarino and Berrettini is tougher than M.Zverev and Berdy in 2017 lol

 

[aman92]

Mannarino and Berrettini is tougher than M.Zverev and Berdy in 2017 lol

Fed did have a stronger semi final opponent though it was his bunny Wawrinka

 

[NeutralFan]

I am voting Nadal in 4 .

Edit - i have been too pessimistic but i am going against my feeling, Nadal in 4 .

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

MED or PED... choice is easy

 

[roysid]

Forget Nadal and meddy. Which thread will win TT is the question

 

[Emily]

Honestly, it's not Rafa's to lose, it's Medvedev's. No one from day one predicted Rafa to win and he is still not the favorite. Call me what you want but Medvedev winning will be the most natural thing for me as a Rafan. Rafa winning would be the closest thing to a miracle and I don't believe in miracles.

Medvedev in 3.