Rafael Nadal and Matteo Berretting will be squaring off for the second time in their careers when they collide in the Australian Open semifinals on Friday.
Date: January 28, 2022
Match time: Not before 2:30 PM AEDT local time / 10:30 PM EST – New York, Montreal / 3:30 AM GMT – United Kingdom / 4:30 AM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Matteo:
He’s one of the best players of the world since a while already. He’s very solid.
I need to play my 100 per cent and my highest level if I want to keep having chances to fight, to be competitive, and to try to be in the final.
Matteo on playing Rafa:
That was the only time [US Open 2019] I’ve played Rafa and was a really tough match for me.
He won the tournament afterwards. Was my first semifinals. I didn’t really know what to expect and even though the first set I had set points, so I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be a great fight. He played five sets as well today. So he needs to rest as well.
By reaching the semifinals in Malbourne, Berrettini has recorded his best Australian Open result. He is now bidding to become the first Italian man in history to reach the Australian Open final. This is his 5th Australian Open and his 16th Grand Slam appearance overall.
Rafa is bidding to defeat a Top 10 player at the Australian Open for the first time since 2017, when he defeated both No. 6 Gael Monfils in the round of 16 and No. 3 Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals. He has a 7-11 win-loss record against Top 10 opposition at the Australian Open.
Berrettini is bidding to defeat a Top 10 player at a Grand Slam for the first time. He has lost all 6 of his previous matches against Top 10 players at the Grand Slams.
Rafa captured his 89th Tour-level title two weeks ago at the Melbourne Summer Set and is bidding to win his 21st Grand Slam this week, which would put him in sole ownership of the most Grand Slam titles in men’s singles history.
Rafa has a 28-7 win-loss record in Grand Slam semifinals overall. Since the beginning of the 2018 season, he has won 5 of the 9 Grand Slam semifinals he has contested, having won the previous 15 Grand Slam semifinals he had played before that.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Best of luck, Rafa! It is always such a pleasure to support you in your quest to compete another day. Your unflappable will to fight and overcome all the obstacles during your matches with such undeniable laser like focus and belief is so amazing to me. Looking forward to your semi-final against Mateo. Vamos!!!
I hope Rafa is recuperating well. Vamos!!!!
Good luck Rafa!! Bring your A-Game. I’ll be waking up at 3.30am to cheer you on!
Get it done quick in straight sets champ!!
Lots of ❤🧡 – 🙏🏼🙏🏼 and the best of luck tonight Rafa! Have a feeling that Rafa will be lifting his 21 trophy! He is in it to win it! Vamos Rafa!
Good luck and Vamos Rafa. Go for it👏👏
Moderator: Please delete my comment if you feel it is inappropriate for this site. I have read a few comments on various news sources which give me a nagging feeling that Shapo’s accusations may be more than just frustration, but planned gamesmanship (supported by who knows who) in an effort to smear Rafa’s image, distract him, and/or cause chair umpires to code him … the endgame being to keep Rafa from potentially winning #21. Talk about corrupt.
Responding to Dallas, it is true that Shapo’s comments may bring greater attention to Rafa’s cutting it close with the serve clock but Rafa has dealt with that before. I think it’s just Shapo being Shapo rather than a concerted campaign. Shapo complained during their Davis cup match in 2020 and it got him exactly nothing.
Shapo’s poor performance during the fifth set had nothing to do with the clock. Tennis fans and commentators can obviously see through Shapo’s sour grapes. I don’t think he is part of team Djokovic.
I completely agree David….
Denis is a very talented young man but needs to grow up and control himself on court. What he displayed was childish and then his pressor was more of the same.
He lost fair and square and needs to stop playing the “blame game” and instead go to the tapes and learn where he failed on court to Nadal and improve his game!
Dallas in USA, Please state your source(s) where you saw these odious comments. This is a serious allegation which needs to be backed up by evidence rather than idle gossip. It sounds to me like the ravings of Djoker fans who see conspiracies everywhere. I know that you are a Rafa fan but you have chosen to repeat this “information”. Thank you in advance.
These were comments made by people, not news sources. I should have made that clear. Two comments were posted to an article in Daily Mail UK and another was posted to one of many YouTube videos I watched. Shapo’s “corrupt” comment during the match came as a shock to me, and I was trying to make sense of it. It terrified me that these types of distractions could be part of something bigger, but feel relieved by Marilee and David’s posts. I apologize if I was out of line. And YES, I am a die hard Rafa fan since 2005. Vamos Rafa.
Given the tennis “documentary” that’s currently in production, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if players are trying, or being encouraged, to create dramatic content.
Dear Rafa you will do this. Have faith in your tremendous ability right now. One game at a time, do not let Matteo rush you as that impudent young Canadian was doing. Buena Suerte my Champion and Hero. Vamos Rafa.
Rafa you got this is time to shine good luck we are with you all the way vamosssssss champ 👍🎾💪❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💯🇺🇸
As You have said Rafa, it is almost a miracle that you are playing, let alone playing this well. So glad you are in the semi-final, who knows what can happen from here.a vamos!!!
Congratulations Rafa for ur unbelievable victory . It’s u who can make a new tennis history.
Congratulations, Rafael Nadal. Thank you for a courageous performance that few would be able to deliver. There are so many factors that made this win, as you say, a “miracle”; while you were feeling
depleted, your passion and incredible mentality were always present. Two days to recuperate and
recover-hope the physical issues will resolve. All the best👍👏💪🤛🍀🎾❤️🙏
VAMOS Rafa…..I know ur going 2 give it ur all….keep on keeping on…..God Bless👍
Vamos Rafa once again you can do it. I know you will try your very best.