There are two ways to look at
Rafael Nadal's
first week
at the Australian Open.
From the side, he is one of the five players who is clean in the round of 16, without giving up a single set.
Dimitrov
,
Karatsev
,
Auger-Aliassime
and
Rublev
have done it too.
From another perspective, the question remains of how he will respond from now on, with a qualitative leap that begins tomorrow with
Fabio Fognini
, 16th seed.
The world number two, champion of the tournament in 2009 and a four-time finalist, dispatched
Cameron Norrie
6-2, 7-5 and 6-2, with a few more curve than in his matches against
Laslo Djere
and
Michael Mmoh
, but without face too winding a road.
His victory contrasts, however, with the sufferings of Novak Djokovic, first seed, defending champion and eight-time champion,
Dominic Thiem
, finalist in 2020 and last winner of the United States Open, and
Daniil Medvedev
, fifth among the favorites. .
They all needed to consume all five sets.
In
Nole's
case
, temporarily safe from an injury to his right side that could jeopardize his future in the tournament.
As is known, Nadal is not exempt from physical problems either.
After beating Mmoh, he raised the alarm, worried about the null favorable evolution in the lower back area, which already prevented him from competing in the ATP Cup. According to some information, he had been infiltrated on Friday in the lumbar area, with positive results , according to his words after winning Norrie.
“My back didn't improve with each passing day.
He's only done it today [for this Saturday].
I have felt it better.
It was the first day that I felt a progression in my back and this is the most important thing for me, more than anything else ».
Readiness deficit
The anomalous nature of the last part of the preseason, with tennis players in quarantine, forced to limit training sessions and, in some cases, without even being able to exercise, has increased the risks of injury.
Djokovic did not train this Saturday after the mountain that became his meeting with Taylor Fritz.
Pablo Carreño
also suffers an ailment in the side that forced him to leave before Dimitrov.
Matteo Berrettini
, one of the emerging tennis players, beat
Khachanov
despite problems in the same area.
No one is safe in a tournament that will be played without an audience at least until next Thursday, after an outbreak of hyperinfectives was detected in one of the hotels where some of the players stayed.
Michail Pervolarakis'
positive on
arrival in South Africa from Melbourne raises the level of concern.
The Greek has not played the tournament, but he was in the ATP Cup. Pervolarakis tested negative upon his departure from Melbourne, as he explained through Instagram, and could contract Covid 19 on the plane or on the stopover in Doha.
Everything is different in this edition, with the fastest tracks in recent years and the consequent benefit for the big servers.
Without playing great games, Nadal keeps his chances of winning the tournament for the second time and thus surpassing
Roger Federer's
20 greats
.
A still distant goal, since from now on it will be up to him to tackle more qualified opponents.
Should he beat
Fabio Fognini
, the only player who has lifted him two sets in a Grand Slam tournament, in the second round of the 2015 United States Open, he would be measured in the quarterfinals with Berrettini or Stefanos Tsitsipas, and also in the Field of hypothesis, the semifinals could pair him with Medvedev.
On the other side is Djokovic, who is looking for his seventeenth major.
The Serbian, winner of the last two editions and has gone 25 consecutive games without losing in Australia, adding his participation in the ATP Cup. But not even he can move in the territory of certainties
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
Australian Open
US Open
tennis
Covid 19
Australian Open Maximum requirement;
poor preparation for the Australian Open
Australian Open 2021Nadal neutralizes the combative Norrie and enters the round of 16 without giving up a set
Australian Open 2021Public, faster tracks and remnants of the debate on the different treatment in quarantine
See links of interest
2021 business calendar
Rafael Nadal - Cameron Norrie, live
Leicester City - Liverpool
Granada CF - Atlético de Madrid, live
Torino - Genoa
Barcelona - Alavés, live