The big unknown in the men’s draw for the Australian Open 2023 knew when Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic could meet.
Well, Nadal, the defending champion and first seed will not face the nine-time winner until a hypothetical final.
The reason is that they have ended up in different parts. The highest-seeded player in the Balearic Islands is the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who finished his participation in the United Cup undefeated. That duel would be in the semifinals.
But it is that on the side of the winner of 22 grands, Daniil Medvedev also circulates. The last final of the Open could be repeated in the quarterfinals.
Rafa arrives urgently in terms of victories, he has only won one of his last seven games, but not in terms of confidence: ” I’m not unhappy with the preparation. I need to win games but the preparation is going quite well, I train a lot and think I’m in good shape .”
Nadal will debut against British Jack Draper, number 40 in the ATP ranking. There is no precedent between the two. The Spaniard will find himself on the other side of the net a left-handed man just like him who has one of the best weapons in his service. His 1.93-meter height helps him.
The possible path of Nadal at the Australian Open 2023
1 round: Jack Draper
2 round: Brandon Nakashima
3 round: Yoshihito Nishioka
round of 16: Frances Tiafoe
fourth: Daniil Medvedev
semi-finals: Stefanos Tsitsipas
finale: Novak Djokovic
MORE NEWS Rafael Nadal will have a team in the electric boat world championship
Djokovic, his great rival in achieving the crown, accumulates five years without losing in Australian lands. He has already chained 34 wins after winning the Adelaide Open 250 last Sunday.
Nole withdrew from Wednesday’s introductory session with Daniil Medvedev after recurring the hamstring pain in his left leg he felt in the Adelaide final against Sebastian Korda. The Balkan does not want to take any risk before the start of the Open following Monday, January 16.
The tournament management will apply its censorship to help Djokovic’s comfort after being deported last season from the Victorian capital after refusing the coronavirus vaccine. Fans who boo him from the stands will be sent off.