KEY POINTS

  • Rafa Nadal is aiming to win a third title in 2022
  • He is a 21-time Grand Slam winner
  • Daniil Medvedev is set to become ATP's new No. 1

Rafael Nadal is set to take on Daniil Medvedev in the semi-final of Mexican Open 2022 on Friday.

The match is the repeat of the Australian Open final, which took place less than a month ago in Melbourne. Medvedev was two sets up and three break points in the third one before Nadal made an incredible turnaround in the game to sweep away with a record 21st Grand Slam title.

On Thursday, fourth-seeded Nadal improved his excellent start to the 2022 season to 13-0 with a 6-0, 7-6 victory over World No. 39 Tommy Paul of U.S. in the quarter-finals of the Mexican Open at Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco.

"I think I played one of the best sets since a long time ago. I played fantastic in the first set. At the beginning of the second, I made a couple of mistakes, and then he started playing better and better. The set became a little bit crazy with a lot of breaks," Nadal said in the post-match interview after winning his last-eight tie on Thursday.

Nadal is aiming to win a third consecutive title in 2022 after triumphing in the two tournaments he had competed in – Melbourne Summer Set 1 and Australian Open.

Meanwhile, top seed Medvedev thrashed World No. 103, Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan 6-2, 6-3 to progress into the last four.

Spain's Rafael Nadal (L) shakes hands with Russia's Daniil Medvedev after winning the men's singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne early on January 31, 2022.
Spain's Rafael Nadal (L) shakes hands with Russia's Daniil Medvedev after winning the men's singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne early on January 31, 2022. AFP / William WEST

Rafael Nadal vs Daniil Medvedev, Mexican Open Semi-Final [Match Details]

Match timing: Not before 10 pm local time (11 pm EST)

Date: Feb. 25 (U.S., Canada and Mexico).

Streaming: For viewers in the U.S., the Tennis Channel will broadcast all the matches.

"Everybody knows how difficult the final was in Australia. Tomorrow is going to be another battle. I know he's playing well, plenty of confidence... I am excited to play that match," Nadal said on facing Medvedev in the semi-final in Mexico.

Medvedev is also going to become the World No. 1 on Monday in the ATP Rankings, the ATP confirmed. This comes after Novak Djokovic lost to Jiri Vesely in Dubai.

The 26-year-old Medvedev will be the first man outside the "Big 4" to reach World No. 1 since Andy Roddick in 2004.

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