Rafael Nadal furiously advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open without losing a set, sending a brutal warning to Novak Djokovic that his back worries are gone.
With Djokovic under a huge cloud of injuries with a possibly broken muscle Beside him, Nadal dispatched British player Cameron Norrie 7-5 6-2 7-5 on Saturday night.
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The door to a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title now appears to be firmly ajar for Nadal, with Roger Federer absent and Djokovic fighting.
Although the Spaniard was already worried about injuries early in the tournament, on Saturday night he said his back is much better in a chilling warning to rivals.
“No, the back was not getting better every day – it was getting better today,” he said with a smile.
“But today is better, yes. On the first day I feel an improvement, and that is the most important thing for me today, more than anything else.”
Nadal is currently tied with Federer in 20 Grand Slam titles, with young Djokovic on his trail with 17.
A Melbourne title would help boost Nadal’s true overall status in the sport, the clay court conductor’s only Norman Brookes Challenge Cup returning in 2009.
On Friday night, Djokovic said he was “sad and worried” that he would not be able to play his fourth-round match with Milos Raonic.
“I know it’s a tear, I don’t know if I’ll be able to recover from that in two days,” said Djokovic after his titanic five-set battle with Taylor Fritz.
“I don’t know if I can go to court, I don’t know.
“Honestly, I don’t know how I won that match. I am very proud and at the same time sad and worried.”
Nadal arms confrontation with Fábio Fognini
Norrie, No. 69 in the world, refused to be intimidated by Nadal, facing the 34-year-old during much of the first set.
He set the first break – only to be broken immediately – and went 5-6 before Nadal tapped his feet to claim the set.
Nadal managed two breaks in the second before another tight call in the third, where Norrie rolled again 5-6 to give up the game.
The victory also continued Nadal’s remarkable record against other lefties.
He lost to one in 2017, when he was defeated by Canadian Denis Shapovalov, and that victory increased to 16 at the trot.
His victory sets up a meeting in the fourth round with Fabio Fognini, who eliminated the last Australian on the field, Alex de Minaur, in two sets.
The two have a somewhat confused history, which goes back to a fight – mainly led by Fognini – at the 2015 Hamburg Open.
But Nadal said his relationship with a player who is known for putting himself on the wrong side of others during the tour – including his Italian compatriot Salvatore Caruso in the second round in Melbourne – is now “very good”.
“Of course, we had our history on the court for a few years, but without problems after that,” he said of Fognini, who has won four of his 16 matches.
“When he’s playing well, he’s one of the most dangerous opponents in the tournament, no doubt.”
with AAP
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