Daniil Medvedev talks of Rafael Nadal’s chances of winning the 2022 Australian Open
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Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev
World No. 2 and the 2nd seed at the ongoing 2022 Australian Open, Daniil Medvedev spoke about who he thinks is the favourite for the title this year after the 3-time defending champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was not allowed to play at the Grand Slam because of his unvaccinated status with regard to the Covid-19 virus.
While Medvedev was the runner-up at the 2021 Australian Open and is the reigning Grand Slam champion having won the 2021 US Open, the Russian believes that he is not the favourite for the title this year in Melbourne Park. Medvedev won his first-round tie 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(3) in 1 hour and 54 minutes against Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen and chose his favourite after the match.
“I always say whoever is the highest-ranked is the favourite so this time I will go with Rafa because he has 20 Grand Slams,” said Medvedev after his win over Henri while he was speaking with Eurosport’s Cube. While many can argue on this given Rafael Nadal is returning from an injury, the Spaniard is yet to lose a match this year having earlier won the 2022 Melbourne Summer Set in the first week of the Tour.
Rafael Nadal to take on qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, Daniil Medvedev awaits his opponent
After a straight-set regulation win over Marcos Giron in the first round, Nadal will take on qualifier Yannick Hanfmann who defeated wildcard entrant Thanasi Kokkiankis who was the favourite going into the tie after his first ATP title last week on the Tour. Nadal remains the only Australian Open champion in the draw having won the title way back in 2009 after Djokovic was deported.
As for Medvedev, the Russian will await his round 2 opponent which will be the winner between the clash of local boy Nick Kyrgios and British qualifier Liam Broady who will be clashing on the John Cain Arena later in the day in the final match of the court to wrap Day-2 of the Slam.
Also Read: Casper Ruud pulls out of Australian Open 2022, eyes return in the next couple of weeks
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)