Rafael Nadal is a perfect 17-0 to start 2022. On Saturday, he narrowly survived a double-break deficit in the final set against American Sebi Korda. In the fourth round, Rafa will face the literal tallest test American tennis has to offer: Reilly Opelka.
Iga Swiatek has long admired Nadal, and thus far this season, she’s equaled his win tally of 17. And also like Rafa, she’s completed many comebacks this season. In three consecutive rounds, the 2020 Roland Garros champion has come back from a set down to prevail. In the quarterfinals, she also takes on an American: a resurgent Madison Keys.
Wednesday’s schedule is ATP-heavy, as all eight round of 16 singles matches will be contested. The four WTA quarterfinals will be split between Wednesday and Thursday. And there are plenty of appetizing doubles matches throughout the day, featuring top names like Coco Gauff, Leylah Fernandez, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Each day, this preview will analyze the two most intriguing matchups, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule. Wednesday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.
Rafael Nadal (4) vs. Reilly Opelka (17) – Second on Stadium 1
This is a rematch from last May in Rome, where Nadal prevailed 6-4, 6-4. That tournament was a significant breakthrough for Opelka: his first appearance in a Masters 1000 semifinal. At the very next Masters event, he reached the final in Canada. He’s currently at a career-high ranking of 17th in the world, and would debut inside the top 15 with a win on Wednesday. In the last round, Reilly came back from a set down to upset Denis Shapovalov, a man he lost to earlier this year in Melbourne. While he’s not undefeated this year like Nadal, Opelka is now 13-4. He was the champion last month in Dallas, and the runner-up a week later in Delray Beach. His booming serve will be more rewarded on this surface than when he played Rafa on clay. And Nadal’s left foot injury remains a concern. However, it’s hard not to favor one of the best returners of all-time, especially considering Rafa’s current win streak.
Iga Swiatek (3) vs. Madison Keys (25) – Not Before 6:00pm on Stadium 1
Just like Nadal and Opelka, their only previous encounter took place last year in Rome. On that day, Swiatek was victorious in straight sets. Keys had a pretty dismal 2021 season by her own admission, but has rediscovered the joy in her game this year. Madison was the champion in Adelaide, then advanced to the fifth Major semifinal of her career in Melbourne. Swiatek can ill afford to drop the first set for the fourth straight match today. As per Tennis Abstract, when winning the first set, Keys has claimed 40 of her last 42 matches. Iga’s streak as an escape artist may come to an end on Wednesday, as a confident Madison on an American hard court can be a tough out.
Other Notable Matches on Wednesday:
Jannik Sinner (10) vs. Nick Kyrgios (WC) – Kyrgios has been on fire this past week, losing only 16 games across six sets. On Monday, he earned his first top 10 win in over two years. He’s never faced Sinner, who is an excellent 13-2 in 2022.
Simona Halep (24) vs. Petra Martic – Halep has defeated two straight seeds in straight sets (Gauff, Cirstea). Martic has beaten three consecutive seeds, including US Open champion Emma Raducanu. They last played in the same round of this same event four years ago, with Simona prevailing 6-3 in the third.
Carlos Alcaraz (19) vs. Gael Monfils (26) – Monfils is coming off a career highlight: dethroning World No.1 Daniil Medvedev on Monday. Alcaraz is coming off a thorough thrashing of Roberto Bautista Agut by a score of 6-2, 6-0. This is their first career meeting.
Cam Norrie (12) vs. Jenson Brooksby – Brooksby came back from a set down on Monday to upset Stefanors Tsitsipas, the first top five win of his young career. Meanwhile, Norrie defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili by nearly the same score as last October’s final between the two men. This is another first career meeting.
John Isner and Jack Sock (WC) vs. Feliciano Lopez and Stefanos Tsitsipas (WC) – Isner and Sock won this event four years ago, and took out Australian Open champions Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios in the last round. Lopez and Tsitsipas were champions three weeks ago in Acapulco, and are yet to drop a set this fortnight.
Wednesday’s full Order of Play is here.
