Rafa Nadal: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic given Australian Open warning
RAFA NADAL will reach the Australian Open final even though he isn’t back at his best, Greg Rusedski has warned.
Rafa Nadal is into the Australian Open third round
Nadal is the first seed at the Australian Open and beat Leonardo Mayer in three sets to reach the third round today.
The Spaniard looks on top form, having adequately recovered from a knee injury that forced him to quit the ATP World Tour Finals last season.
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are the two main rivals for the title this season.
But former British No 1 Rusedski reckons Nadal’s game and a favourable Australian Open draw means he is the man to back for the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
On Nadal’s 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) win today, Rusedski said: “Last time they met at the US Open it was Mayer who won the first set before Rafa rolled him in the next three. Today he won in straight sets.
Rafa Nadal is Greg Rusedski's tip to reach the final
Second seed Roger Federer plays his second round match on Thursday
“He doesn’t know where his tennis is but after today’s match he looks in great form.
“I predicted him getting back to the final this year and I’m feeling pretty confident about that because he’s gotten better with every match.
“His section looks very good as well.
“Rafa is motivated. There are not a lot of people who are going to stop him out there.”
Nadal cannot meet Federer until the final in Melbourne, while Novak Djokovic is also in the bottom half of the draw.
It means Marin Cilic is Nadal’s prospective opponent for the quarters based on seeding, with Grigor Dimitrov tipped to meet the Spaniard in the semis.