Rafael Nadal is assured he’s on the correct path forward of his Australian Open third spherical match with Karen Khachanov.
Nadal is unbeaten to date this season having reduce brief his 2021 marketing campaign in August due to a foot downside. He’s the one former champion within the males’s draw however is at present third favorite behind Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev.
On Wednesday German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann put up a superb combat on Rod Laver Area, together with saving 4 match factors, however sixth seed Nadal took his fifth probability to clinch a 6-2 6-3 6-4 victory after two hours and 42 minutes.
“I feel I’m doing issues effectively,” stated Nadal. “Issues that I can enhance I’ve to enhance. I wish to preserve going within the event. After two matches it is the second to make a step ahead.
“I am enthusiastic about it. I am enthusiastic about the truth that I will be taking part in in a 3rd spherical for another time right here after all of the issues I’m going by means of.
“I haven’t got huge strain on my shoulders, truthfully. I do not really feel it. The strain is just to remain wholesome and to take pleasure in the truth that I’m competing once more, then give my greatest as I did throughout all my tennis profession.”
In Khachanov, Nadal will face his fiercest take a look at to date at this 12 months’s Australian Open. The previous world No 8 dropped the opening set of his Melbourne marketing campaign to Denis Kudla however he has gained the final six in a row to achieve the third spherical after an assured show towards Benjamin Bonzi.
And whereas Nadal holds a 7-0 document of their face to face, 5 of their final six units from three matches on the 2018 US Open and Indian Wells and the Davis Cup Finals in 2019 have gone to a tie-break. Count on the Russian to ask loads of questions of Nadal immediately.