Rafael Nadal booked a place in the Australian Open final with victory over Matteo Berrettini
Rafael Nadal is one win away from a record 21st Grand Slam title after the Spaniard beat Matteo Berrettini in four sets in their Australian Open semifinal.
Nadal eased past the disappointing Italian 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 to move into a sixth Melbourne final of his career.
The 35-year-old has lost on four of those past five occasions – including twice to Novak Djokovic – but will hope to end that hoodoo and can clinch what would be a second Australian Open title to add to the one he picked up in 2009.
Should he do so, Nadal will one move ahead of great rivals Djokovic and Roger Federer in the all-time Grand Slam standings – something which had seemed implausible at the turn of the year as the Spanish icon made a comeback from a longstanding foot injury and also saw his preparations disrupted by a Covid infection.
But seeded sixth, Nadal has found form and fitness when it counts in Australia, battling past Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov in a five-set quarterfinal and making lighter work of the 25-year-old Berrettini at Rod Laver Arena on Friday.
Nadal will now wait to see who he faces in Sunday’s final as Russian second seed Daniil Medvedev plays fourth-seeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in their last-four meeting later on Friday.
It's a sixth #AusOpen final for @RafaelNadal 🙌