Rafael Nadal to share AO practice court with Sinner

The 20-time Major champion Rafael Nadal will seek the second Australian Open title from February 8, confirming his participation at the season's first Major.

The organizers will follow strict health measures due to the pandemic, keeping the players in two-week quarantine and allowing them to train with only one rival in the first week. Nadal has chosen the young Italian Jannik Sinner, already practicing with him in Melbourne last January during Sinner's Australian Open debut run. In the previous two years, Jannik has made a name for himself, passing 500 rivals on the ATP ranking list and cracking the top-40 at the end of 2020!

The young gun won three Challenger titles in 2019 and raised his level in the season behind us to notch the first ATP title in Sofia and a Major quarter-final at Roland Garros. In his first trip to Paris, Sinner defeated four rivals to become the youngest quarter-finalist on debut since Nadal in 2005, facing the 12-time champion in the battle for the semi-final.

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Jannik gave his best to challenge Rafa in the opening two sets before the Spaniard prevailed 7-6, 6-4, 6-1. The Italian served for the opening set at 6-5, getting broken a few minutes later and allowing Rafa to grab the tie break. The Spaniard came from a break down in set number two, raising his level and taking it 6-4. Breaking the rival's resistance, Rafa sailed through set number three to move over the top and advance into the last four.