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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, January 19, 2017

 
Rafael Nadal

"He's a player that is for sure one of the next Grand Slam winners," said Rafael Nadal of third-round opponent Alexander Zverev.

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Tennis’ future looked like a blur to Rafael Nadal and landed with a bang in the desert last spring.

Aggressive baseliner Alexander Zverev is so dangerous he can be disorientating to even elite champions.

Nadal: Djokovic Upset Probably An Accident

An adrenalized Nadal scraped back from the brink fighting off a match point then reeling off 15 of the last 16 points and five straight games to complete a 6-7 (8), 6-0, 7-5 comeback win over Zverev in Indian Wells last March.

They square off in an Australian Open third-round rematch as Nadal tries to reclaim his Grand Slam promnent past against a player with a major future.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion calls the 19-year-old Zverev a future world No. 1 and formidable obstacle in his aim to advance to the second week.

It’s a highly-anticipated clash between the former world No. 1 and former junior No. 1 whose potential is as massive as his powerful serve.

“Zverev is a great player. (He) is one of the best players of the world, without a doubt, today,” Nadal said after sweeping 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets. “And he's a player that is for sure one of the next Grand Slam winners. He has a big chance to become the future world No. 1, no? If he's able to keep improving the way that he's doing, I don't have doubt that his potential is so, so high.

“I know I have a very tough match, and I know I need to play my best if I want to have chances. That is what I am looking for.”



The 24th-seeded Zverev envisions another baseline battle with the man he calls “a legend.”

“It's obviously great to hear from a legend like him that he thinks I can be very good and he thinks I can be good in the future,” said Zverev after dispatching American qualifier Frances Tiafoe, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the third round. “As well, I know that I still have to work very hard. I still have to, you know, improve a lot to be up there with them.

“It's going to be a spectacular night, I think, after tomorrow, or day. We don't know yet. Yeah, I'm looking forward to that match.”

Working with his father and coach former ATP pro Alexander Zverev and Jez Green, former trainer for Andy Murray, the 24th-ranked Zverev wisely cut short his 2016 season a couple weeks early to focus on strengthening his fitness and sharpening his transition skills.

While his match management skills are still a work in progress, Zverev’s disruptive baseline power, menacing power, jolting return and growing confidence make him a threat in just his second Australian Open.

In their last meeting, the 6-foot-6 Zverev looked comfortable confronting Nadal’s high-bounding topspin that sometimes sat up in his strike zone.

Zverev dethroned Roger Federer on grass last June, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-3, scoring one of the biggest win of his career in advancing to his first Halle final. He beat Federer again in a tight triple tie break test at Hopman Cup last month a few months after dispatching Tomas Berdych and Stan Wawrinka in succession to capture his first ATP championship in St. Petersburg.

"He’s got a big serve, he’s got a nice backhand, he’s improving his forehand and his moving forward," Federer said of Zverev. "So, every week that goes by I think he’s going to be a tough player in the future, no doubt about it."

It’s more than a generational clash between an iconic Grand Slam champion and a potential future champion.

It’s Nadal’s whipping top-spin forehand vs. Zverev’s jolting two-handed backhand.

The swoosh vs. triple stripe.

Heavy topspin vs. flat force.

Former teenage phenom Nadal sees greatness in Zverev and will try to inflict growing pains on the teenager aiming to reach the Australian Open fourth round for the 10th game.

“All the top players start very young,” Nadal said. “I started very young. Roger started young. Novak, Andy, Hewitt, Sampras, everybody. All the great champions are good in the young, early.

“(Zverev) has all the shots: great serve, great forehand, great backhand, everything. He's a complete player. I need to put a rhythm very, very high to try to don't let him play in comfortable positions. That's what I going to try.”


 

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