We’re closing in on the second weekend of the 2022 Australian Open which means we have our two main singles finals decided. Remember, Fridays are usually an “off” day for our players.
The women’s singles final will take place on Saturday January 29th, and the men’s singles final will take place on Sunday January 30th.
Men’s Singles
Fan favorite, and my personal favorite, Rafael Nadal moved into his historic 21st Grand Slam final. After being plagued by injuries over the past couple of years, Nadal was unsure of his future in this sport at a professional level.
But his semifinal match against Berrettini proved otherwise. The Spaniard was in classic form, displaying his explosive, physical, and consistent style that got him noticed during his first years on the professional circuit.
“I feel alive again in terms of competitive spirit”, said Nadal. “I missed that feeling and I’m enjoying it. The pressure it not much for me now, I never believed that I will have the chance to be where I am today. So I’m just enjoying every single moment and of course trying my best.”
Nadal will face off against Daniil Medvedev, who had a slightly rockier semifinal match than Nadal. He got into a bit of spitting match with the chair umpire, faulting him for not giving a coaching violation to his opponent.
Going into the final, Medvedev has the higher seed but much less experience. He only has one Grand Slam title, from last year’s US Open. Compared to Nadal’s … TWENTY Grand Slam titles, one of which was at the Australian Open.
With the way Nadal has been playing these past couple of weeks, he would be my best bet to take home his second AO championship.
Women’s Singles
On the women’s side, we have a US versus Australia match up with Danielle Collins versus local Ashleigh Barty. Both ladies moved into the finals quite smoothly after straight sets wins in their semifinals.
With Barty not only being the top seed, but also having the home court advantage, my bet would be on her. Plus, she hasn’t dropped a single set in the past two weeks. This will be her third Grand Slam title, but first for the Australian Open.
“As an Aussie, we are exceptionally spoilt that we’re a Grand Slam nation—we get to play at home and in our backyard,” Barty said during her on-court interview. “I’m just happy that I get to play my best tennis here. I enjoy it. I’ve done well before, and now we have a chance to play for a title.”
