Nadal aims to end his mixed 2022 on a high
Justin Chadwick |
World No.2 Rafael Nadal will be aiming to end 2022 on a winning note when he takes on Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie at the United Cup in Sydney on Saturday.
Nadal won the Australian Open and Roland Garros earlier this year to take his career grand slam tally to 22, but foot, rib and abdomen issues meant he played just four events after Wimbledon in July.
The 36-year-old is back fit and looking to build form ahead of January’s Australian Open.
Nadal will be the star attraction when he leads Spain into battle against Great Britain on Saturday.
Norrie enters the match full of confidence after beating Australian Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-3 on day one.
World No.70 Nuria Parrizas Diaz faces off against Katie Swan in the women’s singles rubber.
Australian hopes of progressing after their defeat to GB lie in a Spanish victory.
Nadal likes the concept of the mixed-teams United Cup.
“It’s always different when you play like a team,” Nadal said.
“We are used to playing Davis Cup or Fed Cup.
“I mean, it’s nothing 100 per cent new, but at the same time it’s the first time that we share forces between men and women. It’s going to be exciting.”
The other big drawcard in action on Saturday is women’s No.1 Iga Swiatek, who will spearhead Poland against Kazakhstan in Brisbane.
Swiatek, who won the French Open and US Open this year, will start as a hot favourite against world No.51 Yulia Putintseva.
Pole Daniel Michalski will face Timofey Skatov in the men’s singles rubber.
Kazakhstan need to win their tie against Poland after losing to Switzerland in the opening round.
German Alexander Zverev, who slipped from second to 12th in the world rankings this year after suffering a bad knee injury in Paris, is up against Czech Jiri Lehecka in Sydney.
Brazil and Norway kick things off in Brisbane.
Belgium, led by veteran David Goffin, takes on Bulgaria in Perth.
Croatia, featuring Donna Vekic and Borna Coric, confront Argentina later in the day.
The US, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, and Switzerland all started the tournament with tie wins.
AAP
