Rafael Nadal Wary Of Tiafoe Threat After Crushing Berdych At Australian Open - UBITENNIS

Rafael Nadal Wary Of Tiafoe Threat After Crushing Berdych At Australian Open

The Spaniard reflects on his latest win and looks ahead to his first ever meeting with the 21-year-old.

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read
Rafael Nadal at the 2019 Australian Open (photo Roberto Dell'Olivo)

World No.2 Rafael Nadal is taking nothing for granted ahead of his quarter-final meeting with a potentially ‘dangerous’ Frances Tiafoe at the Australian Open.

The 11-time French Open champion cruised into the quarter-finals of the tournament after brushing aside a frustrated Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-1, 7-6(4). Nadal started the match in clinical fashion by winning 12 out of the first 13 games to seal a two sets lead after just over an hour of play. Hitting 32 winners to 17 unforced errors and breaking Berdych five times during the match.

“He had one of these days where he wasn’t on his game,” said Nadal. “I expected in the third set that he would push me, and he had his chances, even had a set point. That was a very real set, more than the first two, and I’m very happy to be in the quarter-finals again.”

Berdych, who missed most of the 2018 season due to a back injury, wasn’t afraid to show his emotion during the match. In the closing stages, the Czech player lost his cool during the tiebreaker when the shot clock stopped working. Complaining to the umpire about the situation. From that moment, Berdych didn’t win another point in the match.

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Nadal is yet to lose a set in the tournament heading into the quarter-final stage. Melbourne is the first event where he is testing out a new service motion. The change has been made to help reduce the amount of pressure put on the body of the 32-year-old. 12 months ago Novak Djokovic also changed his serve following his elbow injury.

“I just try things to improve my game. I talk with the team about the things, the aspects of the game that we can keep improving. We try to make that happen.” He explained.
“With the serve, we changed a few things, but nothing drastic, nothing dramatic. Good thing I had some time to work with it. I am happy, more or less, how the serve is working during the first official event that I am playing.”

The next test comes in the shape of American rising star Tiafoe. Celebrating his 21st birthday today, the rising star battled his way to a 7-5 7-6 (6), 6-7 (1), 7-5, win over Grigor Dimitrov. Hitting a total of 63 winners to become only the third male player from his country to reach the last eight of the Australian Open this decade.

“He has everything. He’s quick. He served well. Very quick forehand. He’s a very dynamic player, aggressive one. Of course, he’s dangerous.” Nadal said about Tiafoe. “He’s in quarter-finals. He won great matches during the whole event. It’s going to be a tough one.”
“I played some good matches until that round, and now is the moment to keep doing steps forward to keep having chances to keep — to give myself chances to keep going.” He added.

World No.39 Tiafoe is hailed as one of America’s brightest prospects in the sport. As a junior, he won the prestigious Orange Bowl at the age of 15. Two years later, he became the youngest American man to feature in the French Open draw since 1989. Since then, Tiafoe has enjoyed a steady rise on the tour with both triumphs and setbacks. Last year he won his maiden ATP title in Delray Beach.

This upcoming encounter will be the sixth time Nadal has played in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

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