Facing Rafael Nadal in a slam final is an immense challenge and Daniil Medvedev ceded to his nerves during their encounter in Melbourne.
The Russian sensation, for some reason, always wants the ballboys behind him having 2 balls each when he serves. This is something that is often difficult to enforce and Medvedev lost his cool with the umpire when Rafa started his incredible comeback from 2-sets-down.
Medvedev said to umpire:
“Are they not allowed to pass the balls to one another?
They don’t have to do the circles around the court, they can just pass the balls to each other.
They can pass to each other?! It doesn’t have to be in the middle!”
Medvedev at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2022
Currently ranked no.2 (career-high), the Russian has a composed 9-1 record in 2022. Medvedev is playing at the Australian Open where he toppled Henri Laaksonen 6-1 6-4 7-63, Nick Kyrgios 7-61 6-4 4-6 6-2, Botic Van De Zandschulp 6-4 6-4 6-2, Maxime Cressy 6-2 7-64 6-74 7-5, Felix Auger Aliassime 6-74 3-6 7-62 7-5 6-4 and Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-65 4-6 6-4 6-1.
Daniil Medvedev will take on the world no.5 Rafael Nadal in the final on Sunday at 7:30 pm on Rod Laver Arena. Their actual head to head record is 3-1 for Nadal.
Medvedev won 13 titles in his career: 6 on hard courts, 6 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Nadal at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2022
Currently ranked no.5, Rafael has a 9-0 match record in 2022. The Spaniard is now competing at the Australian Open where he defeated Marcos Giron 6-1 6-4 6-2
, Yannick Hanfmann 6-2 6-3 6-4, Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1, Adrian Mannarino 7-614 6-2 6-2, Denis Shapovalov 6-3 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3 and Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3.Rafael Nadal will face the world no.2 Daniil Medvedev in the final on Sunday at 7:30 pm on Rod Laver Arena. Their current head to head is 3-1 for Nadal.
The Spaniard has won 1 title in 2022 in Melbourne.
Rafael won 89 titles in his career: 22 on hard courts, 62 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal fought against each other 4 times. Their head to head is 3-1 for Nadal. Previously, the last time they squared off, Daniil Medvedev won 3-6 7-6(4) 6-3 in the semifinal in London (Nitto ATP Finals) in November 2020.
Here the video highlights.