Rafael Nadal brushes aside Matteo Berrettini to reach Australian Open final and close on 21st Grand Slam title

Rafael Nadal overcame seventh seed Matteo Berrettini to reach the Australian Open final and close in on a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam singles title. The Spaniard, who is eyeing a historic major title in improbable fashion, brushed the big-hitting Italian aside in four sets, 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3, on Rod Laver Arena in what ended up being an inspired semi-final win. Ad/> A few months ago, the 35-year-old did not even know if he would be in Australia to participate after struggling with injuries over a sustained period ahead of the tournament.

Now he has reached his sixth final at Melbourne Park. Australian Open'Ludicrous' to say Djokovic isn't best player, even if Medvedev gets No. 1 — McEnroe9 HOURS AGO Nadal can move beyond rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic with a 21st singles Slam in Melbourne on Sunday, and will now await the winner of Daniil Medvedev's last-four clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Despite all his major titles, Nadal has just the solitary title at the first Grand Slam of the season, back in 2009. He will now have every chance of claiming his second in Sunday's showpiece. «The first two sets were some of the best I've played for a long time,» Nadal said in his on-court interview.

«I had to suffer and I had to fight but to be in the final again means a lot.» /> US Open champion Medvedev has been labelled a «heavy favourite» to win the title all along by Eurosport's Mats Wilander. The Russian was beaten in last year's final by Novak Djokovic, who was deported from Australia earlier this month. — — - Stream the 2022 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+.