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Back in the summer of 2018, Stefanos Tsitsipas was on an unforgettable run. At the Toronto Masters, he accounted for the likes of Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Kevin Anderson until he fell to Rafael Nadal in the final.
It remained his best performance in a Masters or Slam-level tournament until the 2019 Australian Open. That Toronto blitzkrieg very much gave one an idea of what an immense talent the 20-year-old Greek is.
Armed with a silky single-handed backhand, he can power through rallies with his fierce forehands. The serve has been a crucial weapon for him throughout his Australian Open campaign as has been his penchant to move forward to the net. Most importantly, Tsitsipas believes in himself like never before. That was so evident in his four-set upset of the two-time defending champion Roger Federer.
Now comes his biggest challenge to date. To get through the bulldozing Nadal in a best-of-five set match in a Grand Slam semi-final on a court like the Rod Laver Arena can be as uphill a task as it can get.
The 2009 champion hasn't really been tested that much yet, but he has so far given enough glimpses of the fact that he has been feeling very confident about his game and his body. A healthy Nadal can present the sternest test to anyone which would be vouched for by the likes of Tomas Berdych and Frances Tiafoe whom Rafa beat on his way to the semis.
The 17-time Major winner's improvised serve has been of particular note this fortnight and so have been his inside-out forehands which have never looked better. Tsitsipas is likely to throw down the gauntlet to Rafa through his aggressive flat forehands and could even take a set off the mighty Spaniard. But the southpaw has enough experience and stamina to wage a lengthy battle and recover his ground.
Here is all you need to know about the match:
Match: (2) Rafael Nadal vs (14) Stefanos Tsitsipas
Date: 24. 01. 2019.
Round: Semifinals
Time: Not before 7:30 pm AEDT or 2 pm IST; it is the first match on the Rod Laver Arena in the night session.
Where to Watch Details:
India: Matches will be shown live on TV on Sony SIX, Sony SIX HD, Sony Ten 2, and Sony Ten 2 HD. Matches can also be streamed live on SonyLiv.
USA: ESPN2 and Tennis Channel.
Australia: Channel 9 - Wide World of Sports, 9Gem, and 9Now.
Europe: Eurosport TV channel and on the Eurosport Player live streaming service
Rafael Nadal vs Stefanos Tsitsipas Live score, match highlights, and updates
All matches can also be streamed live on the official Australian Open website.
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