Rafael Nadal can beat ANYONE right now including Novak Djokovic in final - Mary Carillo
RAFAEL NADAL can beat anybody that stands before him in his current vein of form.
Rafael Nadal can beat anyone says Mary Carillo
That is according to former tennis player and now sportscaster Mary Carillo.
Nadal will bid to win his second title down under when he takes on Novak Djokovic in Sunday's Australian Open final.
The duo both breezed past their semi-final opponents Stefanos Tsitsipas and Lucas Pouille respectively and will be fresh for their contest meaning fans could be set to witness another classic.
Supporters will be hoping to see another repeat of the 2012 final where Djokovic edged Nadal in the longest Grand Slam final match in history, lasting five hours and 53 minutes.
The Serbian has won six Australian Open titles and came into the tournament as the clear frontrunner after a strong comeback from an elbow injury last season, but now Carillo believes Nadal’s return to form could see him go all the way.
“I came here thinking it's Novak's to win,” she told the Tennis Podcast.
“Now I'll have to give an edge, I don't know how you beat Rafa when he's behaving this way.
“But when Rafa had his bad couple of years it's because Novak owned him. Didn't he beat him three times or something?
“Rafa's forehand was getting jumpy and short and he was thinking back then 'I really can't beat this guy'
“He's figured out how to beat anybody right now, it's breathtaking.”
Nadal hasn’t dropped a set since arriving in Melbourne, Tsitsipas even said after his defeat to the Spaniard in the last four that he didn’t think he could have played any better.
“There had been rapturous passages and he hasn't dropped a set,” Carillo added.
“I think he's going into the final for the seventh time without having dropped a set.
“He's done that in majors before but a lot of them have been on red clay.
“I cannot imagine someone turning him back at this stage.
“I just hope it's not a six hour final against Djokovic.”
Before the final, Nadal claimed he is not interested in comparing trophy cabinets with his opponents.
“I don't know. I don't take it like this,” Nadal said.
“I always say the same: I do my way, then when I finish my career, we'll see where I am, where Roger is, where Novak is.
“My goal is always the same: just be happy what I am doing.
“I am more than happy, satisfied about all the career that I had since that moment.
“My real goal is just try to keep doing the things that I am doing as long as possible, of course, giving me chances to compete at the highest level.
“If I'm able to make that happen, maybe I will keep have chances to win.”