Rafael Nadal praises ‘powerful’ Jack Draper | Andy Murray ready for tough Australian Open draw | Tennis News

Rafael Nadal admitted he felt vulnerable ahead of his first-round match against England’s Jack Draper at the Australian Open.

The defending champion enters the Grand Slam on the worst run of his career, having lost six of seven matches since the US Open.

“Without a doubt. I’ve lost more than usual, so that’s part of the business,” he said.

“I feel humble enough to accept the situation and just work with what I have now. I have to rebuild all this momentum. I have to rebuild this confidence with me with the victory.”

Normally, a first-round match against a 21-year-old who is just starting a full year on the ATP Tour would make Nadal the favourite, but it is a measure of Draper’s progress that he considers a tough draw for the Spaniard. , who became the number one seed with Carlos Alcaraz injured.

Draper has climbed more than 200 places in the rankings and arrives in Melbourne in good form, with a run to the semi-finals of the Adelaide International under his belt.

“It was probably one of the most difficult first rounds, to excel. He is young, strong, growing very fast in the ranks, playing well.

“It’s a big challenge for me at the beginning to start the tournament. I’m here just giving myself a chance. I know he plays well. He has a lot of positive things, and maybe a good career ahead. I hope to be ready to fight for first round and let’s see what can happen.”

Nadal started the year with two defeats at the ATP Cup against Draper’s compatriot Cameron Norrie and Australia’s Alex de Minaur.

Murray ‘in a better place’ for Australian Open

Andy Murray says he is ready to make a statement at the Australian Open, as he prepares to face Matteo Berrettini on Tuesday.

The former world number 1 has been drawn against the Wimbledon finalist. Italy reached the semi-finals in Melbourne last year, but Murray thinks they have a good chance of causing an upset.

“Obviously it’s a difficult round. But I also feel like I’m in a better place than where I was during any Slams last year,” he said.

“I think I’m ready, I think I’m ready to play the best players at the beginning of the event, but maybe last year, my game didn’t feel good and we got a tough draw, a tough match early in the tournament, no. it feels good.”

Murray’s hip held up well last year and he didn’t suffer any major injuries, but he also didn’t get the results or play the tennis he wanted.

He struggled with cramping issues during the second half of the season, admitting that he had let his fitness slip.

The former Wimbledon champion spent pre-season at a training camp in the US with Ivan Lendl and despite losing a competitive warm-up match against Sebastian Korda in Adelaide last week, he performed well in the exhibition tournament in Kooyong, beating the young Australian. De Minaur.

“A good workout gives you some time to work on some things and improve some things,” the 35-year-old said.

“I’ve also got a lot of work done off the field as well as in the gym physically and in the games I’ve played, whether it’s the games in Kooyong or in Adelaide or when we play in Scotland. [at the Battle of the Brits last month]my moves and stuff are better than they would have been at this stage last year.

“When I move well, I tend to play well, and that’s very important to me. It’s probably the thing I enjoy the most.”

Norrie lost to Gasquet in Auckland

While Murray has dropped down the world and British rankings, Cameron Norrie continues to hope for England in Australia.

He will be hoping for a deep run at Melbourne Park and has a good Grand Slam build up. reached the final at the Auckland Open.

The Brit performed well in the city where he grew up only to be beaten in three sets by Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the final on Saturday.

The world number 12 said after the match that the defeat “hurts” more than any other loss, but he must now focus on his first-round match against Luca van Assche.

Holding back tears during an interview in court, Norrie said: “It hurts. I want it so badly.

“But all the credit to Richard, you hung in there and played more than me. Definitely deserved today. Well done.

“I had an amazing week, coming to Auckland, the tournament where I grew up. I have a lot of friends and family here, everyone is supporting me, which is great.

“I really want to win the title. It doesn’t change anything, it makes me hungrier and hopefully I can come back and win the title next year.”

Norrie, seeded 11th in Melbourne, will play young French wild card Luca Van Assche in the first round.

Kyrigos in friendship with Djokovic

Before the tournament, Nick Kyrigos faced Novak Djokovic in front of a sold-out warm-up crowd.

Kyrigos and Djokovic have forged a close relationship off the court, and the Australian spoke of approaching Serbia last year, when he was banned from participating at Melbourne Park due to his Covid vaccination status.

“The challenges we faced a year ago with the whole COVID situation, no one really stood up for them and this is a real moment where people who really care about your well-being stand up for you and I did,” he said. .

“I think it’s necessary. That’s more important than what I said or did before. I went against my word and stood up for him in front of my country. It wasn’t easy for me either.

“I’ve dealt with a lot of criticism. It’s gone from a rough place to now, we’re helping each other on the biggest stage. We’re just good competitors.

“My relationship with the big three is very different. I am now close to Novak, quite close to Roger [Federer] and me and Rafa just do that (laughs head) when we walk past each other.”