Nadal is coming – Khachanov
6-2, 5-2 Barty over Giorgi. The Australian, close to getting a place in the round of 16. The Spanish and the Russian play next, also with a place in the round of 16 at stake.
It will start later than 9 p.m. in Melbourne.
good start to the season
Rafa Nadal won the ATP 250 in Melbourne, his 89th individual professional title.
Karen Khachanov, Davis Cup champion in Madrid 2021 although from the bench, opened this season by reaching the ATP final in Adelaide 1, losing to Frenchman Gael Monfils.
His way to the third round
Rafa Nadal has won all six disputed and has closed his two matches without giving up: he beat American Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, defeated German Yannick Hanfmann 6-2, 6-3 and 6-4.
Karen Khachanov beat American Denis Kudla 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (2) and eliminated Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 6-4, 6-0, 7-5
A somewhat misleading record (7-0)
Rafa Nadal has won all seven matches he has played against Karen Khachanov on the ATP. However, the last four have been hard-fought wins, with the Spaniard working hard and deciding key tiebreaks.
His last duel dates back to the 2019 Davis Cup, at the Caja Mágica. Rafa won 6-3 and 7-6 (7).
Rafa Nadal – Karen Khachanov: a serious test for the Spaniard
He has won five consecutive matches in a row at the Rod Laver Arena, between his triumph at the ATP 250 tournament in Melbourne and this Australian Open, but the Russian Karen Khachanov appears as the first truly dangerous rival since the foot injury and the coronavirus suffered from the Balearic Islands.
Rafa Nadal, third round against Karen Khachanov
Hello, good morning, we begin the live narration of the match between the Spanish Rafa Nadal and the Russian Karen Khachanvos, third round of the Australian Open.
The match will start in minutes, when the match that dominates Ash Barty over Camila Giorgi 6-2 and 1-0 concludes.
