Nadal’s head to heads against his potential draw opponents

[Ledigs]

It'd be helpful, OP, if you put the last time each of them played. How many of these are from much earlier matches. He's not the same guy in 2022 that he was, even in 2019.

Done!

 

[SummerBreeze]

Right, and then he got hurt.

He's always hurt when he loses

 

[weakera]

He's always hurt when he loses

No but he certainly was badly hurt then.

 

[DIMI_D]

I'm honestly not 100% sure he'll get past an in-form Thanasi in round 2...

I could see that going the distance which won’t bode well Nadal backing up for the rest of the tournament

 

[Ledigs]

A few he hasn’t really faced before early on

 

[Thriller]

His preparation for the French Open begins in Monte Carlo. Not Melbourne.

Last year he didn't play a match between Australian Open and Monte Carlo due to the back injury he picked up just before the AO. He started the clay court season overweight and not on his game and it cost him Roland Garros. Rafa needs matches to play himself into form and confidence BEFORE Monte Carlo if he is to win another FO.

 

[ElChivoEspañol]

People always use this "X has no weapons" line.

But in reality, a tennis match is just that - nothing more, nothing less.

There have been countless times in tennis history when a "weaponless" player has defeated the alleged "weaponed".

Ok bud, hold your breath on that one.

 

[TimHenmanATG]

Ok bud, hold your breath on that one.

It's not my fault that you don't truly understand just how big Kokk can be.

 

[BringBackSV]

Same here and I’m a fan. But he sold his soul to Bill Gates and I’m hoping he gets bounced everywhere

I was a fan too but done with the guy.

 

[malbaker86]

Nadal is in Australia to prepare for the French Open. Anything past the 4th round is a bonus.

this

 

[Deleted member 788697]

I'm honestly not 100% sure he'll get past an in-form Thanasi in round 2...

Very funny.

 

[TimHenmanATG]

Very funny.

Care to bump this comment in a couple of days' time?

 

[Deleted member 788697]

Care to bump this comment in a couple of days' time?

Yeah, Nadal will cruise through the 1st week, and Kokkinakis isn't even as good as Khachanov, Hurkacz or Karatsev.

 

[kishnabe]

Senior Nadal (30+) + Hard Courts = H2H means squat.

Nadal is favorite, but not #1 favorite.

Behind Medvedev and Zeverev to win, IMO. He might pull it off, would need to go in to QTR+ fresh.

 

[Europa1]

R1 – Marcos Giron (66) – H2H 0-0
R2 – Yannick Hanfmann (126) – H2H 1-0. 2019 RG
or Thanasi Kokkinakis (145) – H2H 1-0 2014 AO
R3 – Karen Khachanov (30) – H2H 7-0 2019 and prior mostly outdoor hardcourt
or Benjamin Bonzi (65) – H2H 0-0
R4 – Hubert Hurkacz (10) – H2H 0-0
or Aslan Karatsev (20) – H2H 0-0
1/4 – Alexander Zverev (3) – H2H 6-3 2021 on clay zverev lost twice and 2019-2020 zverev won at ATP finals twice indoor hard. Both times on outdoor hard Nadal won but last time was 2016 and 2017.
or Denis Shapovalov (14) – H2H 3-1. 2021 and 2018 on clay and Nadal won both. Davis Cup finals 2019 Nadal won. 2017 outdoor hard Shapovalov won.
1/2 – Matteo Berrettini (7) – H2H 1-0. 2019 US Open Nadal won in 3.
or Cameron Norrie (12) – H2H 3-0. 2 Clay and 1 AO 2021 Nadal won all 3.
Fin – Daniil Medvedev (2) – H2H 3-1. 2020 indoor hard medvedev won. 2019 indoor hard Nadal won. 2019 Nadal won outdoor hard 2 times.
or Stefanos Tsitsipas (4) – H2H 7-2. Tsistipas has only beaten him once on hard courts.

https://www.atptour.com/en/players/atp-head-2-head/rafael-nadal-vs-stefanos-tsitsipas/N409/TE51

Are there any early reports on court speed?

 

[Bender]

Nadal's not ready, and I don't see him beating both Zverev and Medvedev for the title.

The 2019 version could see it through though.

 

[Deleted member 788697]

Nadal's not ready, and I don't see him beating both Zverev and Medvedev for the title.

The 2019 version could see it through though.

I don't see Zverev beating Nadal and Medvedev for the title either.
And Med hates playing Nadal on hardcourt..... even at 2019 London Nadal beat Medvedev..... and 2020 London Nadal almost won in straight sets before Med came back.
So even in Nadal's worst court, he's a nightmare for Med.

 

[Ledigs]

Shapovalov already being tested

 

[merwy]

@TimHenmanATG

He won't be in form. He just tired himself out by playing a full tournament, with lots of tough matches and 3-setters, and he probably celebrated afterwards.

I normally don’t do this but..
I told you so

 

[tex123]

R1 – Marcos Giron (66) – H2H 0-0
R2 – Yannick Hanfmann (126) – H2H 1-0. 2019 RG
or Thanasi Kokkinakis (145) – H2H 1-0 2014 AO
R3 – Karen Khachanov (30) – H2H 7-0 2019 and prior mostly outdoor hardcourt
or Benjamin Bonzi (65) – H2H 0-0
R4 – Hubert Hurkacz (10) – H2H 0-0
or Aslan Karatsev (20) – H2H 0-0
1/4 – Alexander Zverev (3) – H2H 6-3 2021 on clay zverev lost twice and 2019-2020 zverev won at ATP finals twice indoor hard. Both times on outdoor hard Nadal won but last time was 2016 and 2017.
or Denis Shapovalov (14) – H2H 3-1. 2021 and 2018 on clay and Nadal won both. Davis Cup finals 2019 Nadal won. 2017 outdoor hard Shapovalov won.
1/2 – Matteo Berrettini (7) – H2H 1-0. 2019 US Open Nadal won in 3.
or Cameron Norrie (12) – H2H 3-0. 2 Clay and 1 AO 2021 Nadal won all 3.
Fin – Daniil Medvedev (2) – H2H 3-1. 2020 indoor hard medvedev won. 2019 indoor hard Nadal won. 2019 Nadal won outdoor hard 2 times.
or Stefanos Tsitsipas (4) – H2H 7-2. Tsistipas has only beaten him once on hard courts.

https://www.atptour.com/en/players/atp-head-2-head/rafael-nadal-vs-stefanos-tsitsipas/N409/TE51

H2H is misleading in the sense that they are historical results. Nadal has not been action since 2021 FO and Zv/Med have been on fire i.e they have matured.

 

[mike danny]

Nadal's not ready, and I don't see him beating both Zverev and Medvedev for the title.

The 2019 version could see it through though.

I'd pick 2017 over 2019 since the former was more proven over difficult opponents.

 

[Ledigs]

H2H is misleading in the sense that they are historical results. Nadal has not been action since 2021 FO and Zv/Med have been on fire i.e they have matured.

I put the dates - not too far ago

 

[DSH]

Zverev leads the h2h in past 4-5 encounters iirc.

Indoors and the best of three sets is the same as outdoors and the best of five sets?

 

[Ledigs]

I agree ! Nadal has always sucked at indoor hard. No prediction.

 

[pat200]

I don't see Rafa going past the 4th round.

 

[E36BMWM3]

I'm honestly not 100% sure he'll get past an in-form Thanasi in round 2...

Yea honestly…

 

[RelentlessAttack]

Nadal will be lucky to make the QF

 

[dapchai]

Nadal will be lucky to make the QF

He will be lucky to play tennis...