Sports
Italian Open 2021: Rafael Nadal vs Jannik Sinner Preview; Head-to-Head and Prediction
Twenty-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal, who recently won the Barcelona Open, was offered a stunning defeat by Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Masters. The Spaniard moves to Rome, intending to clinch a record tenth title.
But, Nadal has a defining roadblock in the form of Jannik Sinner as they are all set to face each other in the second round of the Italian Open tomorrow. Both Nadal and Sinner didn’t perform well in Madrid. While Sinner to Alexei Popyrin in the second round, Zverev got the better of the Spaniard.
The Italian Open draw presents problems to Nadal, and it won’t be easier for him to win the title as top players like Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem are also participating in the event.
Italian Open 2021: Rafael Nadal vs Jannik Sinner Preview
Jannik Sinner will be the underdog heading into this enthralling contest. But, there was incredible pressure on the youngster to excel in every tournament he plays. With the Italian Open being his home tournament, Sinner is expected to play at a high level right from the word ‘go’.
The youngster stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round last year and lost against Grigor Dimitrov in the pre-quarters.
On the other hand, Rafael Nadal has a shaky clay-court stint so far and is expected to bounce back stronger after Madrid Open dismissal. The conditions in Rome are different from Madrid as this might suit the Spaniard. Nadal resumed the tour last year in Rome and lost to Diego Schwartzman in the quarter-finals.
Also, Novak Djokovic’s arrival at the Italian Open might also create trouble for Nadal. Even the Spaniard has a tough draw in Rome. If he wins against Sinner, he will have a potential third-round clash against Denis Shapovalov or Casper Ruud. His projected quarter-final opponent could once again be Alexander Zverev.
The performance of the Spaniard at the Rome Masters will give a fair idea of his chances to clinch the French Open this year.
Head-to-Head
The duo played against each other in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros last year. The Spaniard won the match 7-6(4), 6-4,6-1. The Italian showed intense determination during the first set of that match but his level drastically dropped as the match progressed.
But, the Italian has been improving his standards with each passing year as he is expected to step up and damage Nadal’s rhythm. The tennis world can expect a few enthralling matchups between these two over the next year or so.
Italian Open 2021: Rafael Nadal vs Jannik Sinner Prediction
No matter how good or bad his past performances were, Rafael Nadal can never be discounted on the red dirt. His game play suits naturally to the surface and wears off the opponents.
The Spaniard struggled with his serve in the quarter-final loss to Alexander Zverev. While a part of his struggles can be attributed to Madrid’s high altitude, his lack of consistency on the red turf this year is a worrying aspect.
As far as Sinner is concerned, he might try to go hard at Nadal in the first few games to have an outside chance of winning the match. The young Italian loves to play aggressively when needed, and also a proved defense tactician.
Owing to the strong baseline game of Sinner, the Spaniard might improvise his game and look to play few drop shots to confuse the youngster. Entering the match as an underdog, the Italian can freely swing his racquet and workout a game plan in the first few games.
There cannot be one single strategy when it comes to defeating Rafael Nadal on clay. On this note, Sinner will have to use a mix of baseline-volley approach to ensure that he holds his serve before looking dominate the return games.
All in all, the matchup promises to enthrall tennis fans across the globe with a lot of entertaining rallies as Nadal begins his hunt for a tenth Rome Masters title.
Final Prediction: Rafael Nadal to win in straight sets
Also read: Italian Open 2021 Draw: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal Face Tough Paths to Glory
The post Italian Open 2021: Rafael Nadal vs Jannik Sinner Preview; Head-to-Head and Prediction appeared first on EssentiallySports.
