10:51 AM
Nadal* 5-3 Khachanov (*denotes next server)
Khachanov is trying to make a dent with his service game, and moves to 30-0 when Nadal goes long. A rare forehand miss from the baseline from Nadal when the ball skips up. Three game points and he just needs the one! Sealed with an ace. Can Nadal wrap up the set without dropping a single point? Let’s see.
10:49 AM
Nadal 5-2 Khachanov* (*denotes next server)
The pattern continues for Nadal on serve with yet another love service hold. Even with Khachanov gettting a few returns back in play, Nadal is supreme at the other end, wrapping up the game with a forehand into the empty court after getting his opponent on the run. He’s one game away from the opening set.
10:45 AM
Nadal* 4-2 Khachanov (*denotes next server)
With Khachanov not able to get a look in on the Nadal serve yet, he needs to at least be keeping the pressure on with his own service game. A fist pump at 15-0 but Nadal unleashes his trademark forehand down the line for 15-15.
Opting to serve-volley does the trick for the Russian and then an ace brings up two game points. But he’s short with his return and Nadal wrong-foots the world No 30. Khachanov regains his composure and wraps up the hold when Nadal nets.
10:41 AM
Nadal 4-1 Khachanov* (*denotes next server)
Nadal opens with an ace and follows it up with another rasping effort which skids up off the line and forces Khachanov to return long. Khachanov somehow manages to get his racket to a swinging serve down the tee but Nadal will eat up short balls all day and quickly dispatches another winner. Smart approach play at the net wraps up the game.
Nadal yet to drop a point on serve.
10:38 AM
Nadal* 3-1 Khachanov (*denotes next server)
A crucial confidence boosting game for Khachanov. The Russian almost holds to love with a backhand winner from Nadal the only blot on that game. He’s stopped the rot and is on the scoreboard.
10:34 AM
Nadal 3-0 Khachanov* (*denotes next server)
Nadal’s serve doing some early damage. Actually most of the Spaniard’s weapons are fully loaded and working well so far. Even an overhead smash straight down the line. He wraps up the game on the next when Khachanov goes long with his forehand to make it 12 of the first 13 points won in this match.
10:31 AM
Nadal* 2-0 Khachanov (*denotes next server)
What can the Russian reply with? His serve is functioning well enough but the range is just not quite there yet on the groundstrokes, with a couple of early errors.
Another Khachanov return skips up off the net cord but Nadal is there quick as a flash to swot away with the backhand for three break points.
The first is saved but then Nadal unleashes another thundering backhand winner, this time from the baseline, to earn the break. Just the one point for the Russian across the two games.
10:28 AM
Nadal 1-0 Khachanov* (*denotes next server)
Warm ups done and it’s Nadal to serve first in the match. The perfect start for the Spaniard with a comfortable hold to love and an ace thrown in for good measure.
10:24 AM
Nadal in Melbourne
Rafael Nadal famously has 20 grand slams to his name but just the one win here in Melbourne, back in 2009 when he beat Roger Federer in a five-set epic. How he’d love to add to that tally this year.
10:19 AM
Players on court
Nadal is in a purple shirt, white short combo with an aqua blue headband while Khachanov is sporting two differing shades of red on his clothing and a white cap.
Nadal energetically skipping about all over the place as they go through the pre-match formalities and begin to knock up.
10:03 AM
Not long to wait now
Home favourite Ashleigh Barty has just wrapped up a straight sets win over Camila Giorgi on Rod Laver Arena which means Nadal and Khachanov will be emerging on court shortly for their match.
09:54 AM
Nadal’s quest continues
Rafael Nadal is confident he is on the right path ahead of his Australian Open third round match with Karen Khachanov.
Nadal is unbeaten so far this season having cut short his 2021 campaign in August because of a foot problem. He is the only former champion in the men’s draw but is currently third favourite behind Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev.
On Wednesday German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann put up a good fight on Rod Laver Arena, including saving four match points, but sixth seed Nadal took his fifth chance to clinch a 6-2 6-3 6-4 victory after two hours and 42 minutes.
“I think I am doing things well,” said Nadal. “Things that I can improve I have to improve. I want to keep going in the tournament. After two matches it’s the moment to make a step forward.
“I’m excited about it. I’m excited about the fact that I’m going to be playing in a third round for one more time here after all the things I am going through.
“I don’t have big pressure on my shoulders, honestly. I don’t feel it. The pressure is only to stay healthy and to enjoy the fact that I am competing again, then give my best as I did during all my tennis career.”
In Khachanov, Nadal will face his fiercest test so far at this year’s Australian Open. The former world No 8 dropped the opening set of his Melbourne campaign to Denis Kudla but he has won the last six in a row to reach the third round after an assured display against Benjamin Bonzi.
And while Nadal holds a 7-0 record in their head to head, five of their last six sets from three matches at the 2018 US Open and Indian Wells and the Davis Cup Finals in 2019 have gone to a tie-break. Expect the Russian to ask plenty of questions of Nadal today.