Melbourne: Italy’s Matteo Berrettini was set to meet Spanish legend Rafael Nadal in a rematch of their 2019 US Open last-four clash in the Australian Open semi-finals here.
As the clock ticks down for their second meeting in a Grand Slam semi-final, the question foremost in tennis fans’ minds is whether the Italian World No 7 will be able to stop Nadal from inching closer to his 21st Grand Slam title.
Nadal is tied with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at 20 Grand Slam titles, the most in the history of men’s tennis.
With Federer still recuperating from surgery and Djokovic deported from Australia for being unvaccinated, Nadal has a great chance of becoming the most successful player in Grand Slam history.
But Berrettini is hoping to be second time lucky and stop the Spanish star’s juggernaut.
“It’s a great opportunity for me. I’ve watched him so many times in this tournament, in other tournaments, cheering for him,” said Berrettini, who outlasted Frenchman Gael Monfils in a thrilling three-hour, 49-minute quarter-final, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2.
“I really want to win this match. I know I can do it. It’s going to be a really tough one, but I’m in the semis of a Slam for the third time, so it means that this is my level,” the 25-year-old Italian was quoted as saying by the ATP Tour in a report on its official website.