Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal
28th January from 0400hrs
Tennis – Australia – AO 2022
Pick Nadal to win
Bookmaker Ladbrokes
Odds: 8/15 odds recorded 19:32 GMT on 26th January 2022
Rafa Nadal is still in the mix at the Grand Slam in Melbourne after hanging on to beat Denis Shapaolov in the quarter-finals.
He lines up against Matteo Berrettini on Friday with a place in the Australian Open Final at stake.
The winner will meet either Stefanos Tsitisipas or Daniil Medvedev in the Final.
Table of Contents
Matteo Berrettini Preview – Can Italian upset the odds?
Matteo Berrettini almost lost his way in his quarter-final match against Gael Monfils.
He was 2-0 up but then was taken all the way to a deciding set.
This has already been a very long campaign for Berrettini at the Australian Open.
That battle with Monfils was the second five-set match of the tournament, and he has also had three four-set matches.
In the match outright for tennis betting, Berrettini is the 6/4 underdog* (odds recorded 19:32 GMT on 26th January 2022 at Ladbrokes).
He retired from his final tournament on the ATP last season and looked a bit rusty when playing in the ATP Cup earlier this month.
But he has shrugged that off to once again make another big impression in the Grand Slams.
He reached at least the quarter-final in three of last year’s four Slams, the best finish being as runner-up to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Berrettini has gone deeper into the Australian Open draw this year than he has ever gone before.
His previous best was a Fourth Round exit last year because of an injury.
If you take his lack of form against Novak Djokovic, then Berrettini is unbeaten in 21 Grand Slam matches.
While the 25-year-old has been battling supremely well, the concern will be over the amount of sets that he has dropped.
It’s never going to be that easy against Rafa Nadal.
Rafael Nadal Preview – Can Nadal make the final?
There always looked to be a good opportunity for Nadal at the Australian Open 2022 with the way the draw fell.
The Spaniard is targeting just the second Australian Open Grand Slam title of his career.
Nadal had a big fight on his hands in the quarter-finals, where he met young Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
Nadal threw away a 2-0 set lead in the match, before rallying to get himself across the line in the deciding set.
Only twice in his entire career has Nadal lost a match from being 2-0 up.
That comeback against Shapolvoav is a testament to his determination and ability.
Nadal is the 8/15 odds-on favourite for this Australian Open semi-final match* (odds recorded 19:32 GMT on 26th January 2022 at Ladbrokes).
The two dropped sets in that Quarter Final against Shapovalov, is more than Nadal had let slip during the entire rest of the tournament.
There has only been one previous meeting between Nadal and Berrettini.
That was at the 2019 US Open, a match which Nadal won 3-0.
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Given the way that the respective Quarter Final matches for both of these went, it’s reasonable to assume that the match winner won’t get through without dropping a set.
Rafael Nadal 3-1 Set Betting for tennis betting is at 13/5* (odds recorded 19:32 GMT on 26th January 2022 at Ladbrokes).
There were good signs for Nadal ahead of the Australian Open.
He took a minor title in Melbourne without dropping a set.
Nadal has made the final of the Australian Open four times since his one title at the event in 2009.
Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal Betting Advice
Rafael Nadal has the better current form of the two players and the legend gets the nod to come through this.
The Nadal match outright is the first pick at 8/15* (odds recorded 19:32 GMT on 26th January 2022 at Ladbrokes).
He was cruising well enough through the draw before uncharacteristically letting that lead slide against Shapovalov.
Key Facts – Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal Betting Tip
- Matteo Berrettini lost his one previous match against Nadal
- Matteo Berrettini has needed five sets twice in the last three rounds
- Rafael Nadal is seeking his second Australian Open career title
Berrettini, considering he looked pretty poor at the ATP Cup in early January has done fantastically well.
But there have been dropped sets by him throughout this run and the extra time on court could catch up with him.
The Rafael Nadal 3-1 Set Betting pick is the other tennis betting option at 13/5* (odds recorded 19:32 GMT on 26th January 2022 at Ladbrokes).
The best betting odds for Matteo Berrettini vs Rafael Nadal
Matteo Berrettini to win: 6/4 at Bet365
Rafael Nadal to win: 8/15 at Bet365
