Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal – First Round – Preview & Prediction | 2022 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal on and what time does it start? Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal will take place on Monday 17th January, 2022 – not before 03:00 (UK)
Where is Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal taking place? Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal being played on? Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal
What channel is Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal on in the UK? Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Marcos Giron vs Rafael Nadal live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
MARCOS GIRON
28-year-old Marcos Giron set a career-high ATP world ranking of 57th last November after finding some great late-season form for the second year running. A run to the round of 16 at the Paris Masters was exceptional work that he has so far struggled to recapture in 2022, with two straight-set defeats to Ricardas Berankis and Jordan Thompson in warm-up events this month far from satisfactory. The American is yet to win a match at the Australian Open but he set a Grand Slam best exit in the third round of Roland-Garros last year.
RAFAEL NADAL
World number six Rafael Nadal won his opening tournament of the season last week in Melbourne without dropping a set for a perfect warm-up ahead of the Australian Open. The 35-year-old took two titles last season on clay at the Barcelona Open and Italian Open but his loss to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of Roland-Garros was a hugely significant moment in their tussle for the overall Grand Slam record. Nadal missed the last three months of the season through a foot injury and it may take some time yet for him to be fully up to speed but he will be a threat nonetheless as he chases just a second major title from this tournament, previously winning in 2009.
THE PREDICTION
World number 66 Marcos Giron has drawn a very short straw here in former world number one Rafael Nadal, who got his 2022 campaign under way perfectly with a win at his warm-up event in Melbourne last week. 35-year-old Nadal did not drop a set on his way to a first title since last May’s Italian Open, with injury seeing him miss the last third of 2021 including Wimbledon and the US Open. Giron is a grafter capable of forcing Nadal into some tricky situations but the Spaniard should eventually find his rhythm to win outright here. Straight-sets is likely but a risk with his fitness still a relative unknown.
