Australian Open 2021 – Fabio Fognini ‘knows he can beat Rafael Nadal’, says Tim Henman

Fabio Fognini’s previous victories over Rafael Nadal will put him in a good position when the two meet in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Monday, according to Eurosport expert Tim Henman.

The Italian is behind Nadal 12-4 in the head-to-head but won the last game in a Grand Slam, albeit six years ago at the United States Open.

Fognini’s race for the second week was made memorable by a surprising discussion on the court with fellow countryman Salvatore Caruso, with the 33-year-old inciting his opponent by calling him “lucky” after going through the fifth set. breaker in the second round.

And Henman believes that only a fully focused Fognini will hope to upset Nadal, who has yet to drop a set in Melbourne Park this year.

“They have played several times before. Fognini won on clay and hard courts at the United States Open, when he came back from two sets less to win in five,” said Henman.

“It is very important psychologically that he has these victories. He knows he can defeat Nadal.

“He will have to be very focused, we know that Fognini can be very volatile. He will have to serve a high percentage and make sure that he will really be at the top of the rallies from the beginning so that Rafa won’t be able to dictate much with that big forehand. “

Nadal is trying to win the 21st male Grand Slam title in Australia and will be driven by Novak Djokovic’s injury problems and Dominic Thiem’s ​​early departure.

The Spaniard won the tournament only once, in 2009, while Fognini never made it past the fourth round – although he won the men’s doubles title in 2015.

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