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Who knew mens doubles tennis would pack out RLA for a semi. You may have many different opinions on the show, but you can't say it hasn't brought more attention to the doubles for a long long time. It was a good day for the Aussies, with Matt Ebden and Max Purcell beating the 2nd seeds in front of the normal audience of the doubles. Alcott also said goodbye. For the first time in the modern era, the 2 men's semi take place on Friday, one after the other. One in the day session, the other in prime time. We also have the Mixed finals, with an All Aussie in Kubler/Fourlis up against it against a very good team. We also have an Aussie in the semi-final of the girls, Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz. She is on MCA from 12:30(ish)
Weather: 32C. Possible storms and heavy falls. Could be dry or we could have flooding. This is the Melbourne we all know.
Rod Laver Arena
12PM
Kubler/Fourlis [WC] vs. Mladenovic/Dodig [5]
2:30PM (Not Before) (H2H)
Berrettini [7] vs. Nadal [6] (Nadal 1-0)
7:30PM
[4] Tsitsipas vs. [2] Medvedev (Medvedev 6-2)
Both Berrettini and his opponent wasted a 2 set lead only to win in the 5th. For Berrettini, this was his 2nd 5th set match at this year tournament and the 2nd time he nearly coughed up 2 sets to love lead. he has had a hard road to this stage, dropping sets in all but one match. He also didn't have the greatest of ATP Cups, going 1-2 in that tournament. But he was impressive in stages in his wins over top-quality opposition in Alcaraz, C.Busta and Monfils. he had a real breakthrough 2021, making the final of Wimbledon and quarters in the US Open and French, showcasing his all-court ability, with his big serve and forehand a weapon on any surface. Indeed, he is on a 21 match winning streak at Grand Slams against people not named Novak. Nadal knows all about losing to Novak, having done so in the final of Aus Open 2019 and 2012. The Aus Open is the grand small tournament he struggles most at, having only won it once. Last year, Nadal would win the first 2 sets against Tsitsipas only to lose and it looked like it could happen again, and perhaps it should have against Shapovalov. He clearly suffered in that match and would be glad to have had 2 days off to rest his 35-year-old body.. Outside of that match, he had a calm summer, winning the Melbourne warm-up and only dropping a set against Khachanov. They had 1 head2head, the 2019 US Open Semi-Final, in which Nadal would win easily to win in straight sets. Thinking this will be a toss-up and really depends on the fitness levels of both players. I am going with the younger man, Berrettini in 4 sets.
Tsitsipas is back at the AO semi-finals and is playing the same opponent as last year. But unlike last year, he has the benefit of having a quick straight-set semi against the Russian who had to come back from 2 sets to love down. Indeed, Tsitsipas is the only player in the semi who didn't go 5 in the quarter-finals in his very impressive win over Sinner. He had to go 5 to beat Fritz and dropped a set apiece sets in the 2nd and 3rd round. He was not expecting to make it to this stage, with late-season elbow surgery and had little match practise before the tournament, having to withdraw from the ATP after 1 and a quarter matches. The Greek had an outstanding first half of last year(and iffy last year), making the final of the French and the semis here, where he lost to Medvedev easily. Medvedev has had a grumpy tournament, so that's normal for him. He has made enemies in the crowd, and then won over some of them by coming back from 2 sets to love down and having the match of the tournament with FAA. He hasn't been at his best this tournament with Cressy especially frustrating him but he still has an 8-1 this summer. He also dropped a set against Nick. He is coming from winning his first grand slam last year at the US Open, and he made the final here last year. Though Tsitsipas won their last head 2 head at the quarters at the French, Medvevdev holds a 5-1 lead on hardcourt/indoors. They also have a history. Medvedev will want to be fit and be at his disruptive best. Tsitsipas performance last match, and the wear in Medvedev's legs from last year/last match has me questioning this more than last year. I still think Medvedev in 4 with little confidence.
Weather: 32C. Possible storms and heavy falls. Could be dry or we could have flooding. This is the Melbourne we all know.
Rod Laver Arena
12PM
Kubler/Fourlis [WC] vs. Mladenovic/Dodig [5]
2:30PM (Not Before) (H2H)
Berrettini [7] vs. Nadal [6] (Nadal 1-0)
7:30PM
[4] Tsitsipas vs. [2] Medvedev (Medvedev 6-2)
Both Berrettini and his opponent wasted a 2 set lead only to win in the 5th. For Berrettini, this was his 2nd 5th set match at this year tournament and the 2nd time he nearly coughed up 2 sets to love lead. he has had a hard road to this stage, dropping sets in all but one match. He also didn't have the greatest of ATP Cups, going 1-2 in that tournament. But he was impressive in stages in his wins over top-quality opposition in Alcaraz, C.Busta and Monfils. he had a real breakthrough 2021, making the final of Wimbledon and quarters in the US Open and French, showcasing his all-court ability, with his big serve and forehand a weapon on any surface. Indeed, he is on a 21 match winning streak at Grand Slams against people not named Novak. Nadal knows all about losing to Novak, having done so in the final of Aus Open 2019 and 2012. The Aus Open is the grand small tournament he struggles most at, having only won it once. Last year, Nadal would win the first 2 sets against Tsitsipas only to lose and it looked like it could happen again, and perhaps it should have against Shapovalov. He clearly suffered in that match and would be glad to have had 2 days off to rest his 35-year-old body.. Outside of that match, he had a calm summer, winning the Melbourne warm-up and only dropping a set against Khachanov. They had 1 head2head, the 2019 US Open Semi-Final, in which Nadal would win easily to win in straight sets. Thinking this will be a toss-up and really depends on the fitness levels of both players. I am going with the younger man, Berrettini in 4 sets.
Tsitsipas is back at the AO semi-finals and is playing the same opponent as last year. But unlike last year, he has the benefit of having a quick straight-set semi against the Russian who had to come back from 2 sets to love down. Indeed, Tsitsipas is the only player in the semi who didn't go 5 in the quarter-finals in his very impressive win over Sinner. He had to go 5 to beat Fritz and dropped a set apiece sets in the 2nd and 3rd round. He was not expecting to make it to this stage, with late-season elbow surgery and had little match practise before the tournament, having to withdraw from the ATP after 1 and a quarter matches. The Greek had an outstanding first half of last year(and iffy last year), making the final of the French and the semis here, where he lost to Medvedev easily. Medvedev has had a grumpy tournament, so that's normal for him. He has made enemies in the crowd, and then won over some of them by coming back from 2 sets to love down and having the match of the tournament with FAA. He hasn't been at his best this tournament with Cressy especially frustrating him but he still has an 8-1 this summer. He also dropped a set against Nick. He is coming from winning his first grand slam last year at the US Open, and he made the final here last year. Though Tsitsipas won their last head 2 head at the quarters at the French, Medvevdev holds a 5-1 lead on hardcourt/indoors. They also have a history. Medvedev will want to be fit and be at his disruptive best. Tsitsipas performance last match, and the wear in Medvedev's legs from last year/last match has me questioning this more than last year. I still think Medvedev in 4 with little confidence.
