Rafa expects ‘tough match’ against De Minaur as Aussie looks to break hoodoo — LIVE

Rafa expects ‘tough match’ against De Minaur as Aussie looks to break hoodoo — LIVE

Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal expects “another very tough match” when he takes on Alex de Minaur on Monday night at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.

Nadal’s battle against De Minaur is the first of Spain’s tie against Australia, with both nations copping a defeat in their first series of the United Cup.

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The World No. 2 copped a shock loss to Brit Cameron Norrie in his first match on Australian soil for the season, going down in three sets having won the first.

But Nadal won’t take his Aussie adversary lightly as he looks to find form ahead of a big summer.

“He’s (De Minaur) a great player,” Nadal said.

“Playing super fast. Playing with very high intensity. Taking the ball very early. Improved the serve.

“Going to be another tough match that I need to play very well in to have any chance. So let’s see.”

As for De Minaur, he too is looking to notch his first victory at the United Cup having lost 6-3, 6-3 to Norrie in his opener.

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Britain dominate Australia in United Cup | 01:40

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And to do it, he’ll have to beat an opponent he has failed to overcome in three attempts.

“It’s a great opportunity,” De Minaur said.

“I’ve got two great matches. Norrie and Nadal. It’s a great test for me.

“I’m excited to put myself out there. It’s going to be great to play on home ground.”

The duo first faced off at Wimbledon in 2018, when Nadal cruised to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win.

Although the Spaniard would go on to win their next two encounters, the last time they went toe-to-toe was back in January 2020.

De Minaur’s battle with Nadal will be followed by fellow Aussie Maddison Inglis up against Nuria Parrizas Diaz.

UNITED CUP: Day 5 Order of play (all times AEDT)

Sydney, Ken Rosewall Arena

United States (1-0) vs. Germany (0-1) (Group C)

Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. Alexander Zverev (GER), 12 noon

Madison Keys (USA) vs. Jule Niemeier (GER), to follow

Spain (0-1) vs. Australia (0-1) (Group D)

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Alex de Minaur (AUS), 7 p.m.

Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) vs. Maddison Inglis (AUS), to follow

Perth, RAC Arena

Greece (1-0) vs. Belgium (0-1) (Group A)

Despina Papamichail (GRE) vs. Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL), 12 noon

Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. David Goffin (BEL), to follow

France (1-0) vs. Croatia (1-0) (Group F)

Alize Cornet (FRA) vs. Donna Vekic (CRO), 6 p.m.

Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) vs. Borna Coric (CRO), to follow

Brisbane, Pat Rafter Arena

Italy (1-0) vs. Norway (0-1) (Group E)

Martina Trevisan (ITA) vs. Malene Helgo (NOR), 1 p.m.

Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs. Viktor Durasovic (NOR), to follow

Poland (1-0) vs. Switzerland (1-0) (Group B)

Iga Swiatek (POL) vs. Belinda Bencic (SWI), 7 p.m.

Daniel Michalski (POL) vs. Marc-Andrea Huesler (SWI), to follow

ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL: Order of play (all times AEDT)

Centre Court

Daria Kasatkina (3) vs Linda Noskova, 11:30am

Amanda Anisimova vs Veronika Kudermetova (4)

Alexei Popyrin (AUS) vs Felix Auger-Aliassime (2), not before 3pm

Elena Rybakina vs Danielle Collins (5), not before 7pm

Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) vs Maxime Cressy, not before 8:30pm

Showcourt 1

Miomir Kecmanovic vs Christoper O’Connell (AUS), 11:30am

Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil vs Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar

Holger Rune (5) vs Yoshihito Nishoka

Jaimee Fourlis (AUS) vs Marta Kostyuk

Shuai Zhang vs Liudmila Samsonova

Showcourt 2

Irina-Camelia Begu vs Shelby Rogers, 11:30am

Jordan Thompson (AUS) vs Quentin Halys

Mikael Ymer vs Roman Safiullin

Soonwoo Kwon vs Jack Draper

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