Rafael Nadal is in the final of the Australian Open. The 32-year-old Spaniard defeated 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas 6: 2, 6: 4, 6: 0 and stayed in the sixth match in Melbourne without a set drop. Tsitsipas missed his first final in a Grand Slam tournament.
No one has yet decided against whom Nadal will play for the title on Sunday (9:30 am CET). World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and outsider Lucas Pouille meet in the second semi-final.
For Nadal it is already the 25th final participation in a Grand Slam. For more in the Open Era, only Roger Federer (30 participations, 20 wins). Nadal has 17 Grand Slam titles so far, four of which he won in Melbourne.
Against Tsistipas the match lasted only 1:46 hours. Tsitsipas, who threw out defending champion Roger Federer in the tournament, had no chance right from the start. After 30 minutes, the first set went to Nadal, who for the first time since his injury in the semi-finals of the US Open in September last year again denies a tournament.
Three breakballs in a row prevented Tsitsipas in the second round initially and kept his service, then beat Nadal to 5: 4. In the first game of the third round, he immediately put a break against the onrushing world ranking 15. after and ended after the one-sided game. Tsitsipas only suffered a break-ball in the match, standing at 0: 5 in the final set.