Rafael Nadal Loses Twice, Venus Williams Wins In Australia

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Rafael Nadal Loses Twice, Venus Williams Wins In Australia
By Ken Miller, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Wednesday, January 4, 2023 3:55pm PST USA

Sydney/Auckland-- The world number two Rafael Nadal of Spain opened his 2023 season with two singles losses at the United Cup team competition in Sydney, Australia while the former world number one Venus Williams of the USA won in singles play earlier this week at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

Saturday in Sydney, the 36 year old Nadal lost to Cameron Norrie of Great Britain 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 then lost again Sunday to Alex de Minaur of Australia 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Williams opened her 2023 season by overcoming a rain delay midway through a 7-6(7-4), 6-2 victory versus the qualifier Katie Volynets also of

Rafael Nadal of Spain and Venus Williams of the USA

De Minaur struck an ace out wide, his 32nd winner of the match to close out the match.

the USA.

Against Norrie, Nadal started strongly hitting several powerful forehand winners including a 100 miles per hour down the line forehand winner.

However, serving at 2-3 in set two, Nadal struck several crosscourt backhand errors to drop serve and trail 2-4.

In the final set, while Nadal serving down breakpoint at 2 games all, Norrie struck a down the line backhand winner to break serve and lead 3-2.

Serving ahead 5-3 30-0, Norrie struck an overhead winner which he followed up with a down the line forehand winner to close out the match after two hours and 44 minutes of play.

Against de Minaur, Nadal split the first two sets before reaching two games all in the final set.

Then at 15-30, Nadal double faulted to trail 15-40.

Nadal netted a down the line backhand to drop serve and trail 2-3.

Nadal broke back to level the set at three games all.

At five games all, Nadal committed two backhand as well as two forehand errors to lose serve and trail 5-6.

Serving for the match, de Minaur struck an inside out crosscourt forehand winner to lead 30-0.

Nadal netted a down the line forehand return to face matchpoint.

De Minaur struck an ace out wide, his 32nd winner of the match to close out the match.

The 42 year old Williams, a wild card entry into Auckland, went down an early break of serve to trail 4-5 before a short rain delay interrupted the match.

However upon resumption of play Williams struck a powerful down the line forehand winner which she followed up with an aggressive crosscourt backhand winner to break serve and level the set at five games all.

In the following tiebreaker, the match was suspended a second time for a second rain delay with Williams trailing at 1-2.

Williams then hit two volley and two groundstroke winners to close out the tiebreaker.

In set two Williams powered to a 5-0 lead as her opponent hit many balls into her strike zone.

After closing out the round one match, Williams' round two match versus Lin Zhu of China was rained out yesterday and has been rescheduled for today at 3:00 pm PST USA.

Williams could meet one of her fellow Americans; either the top seeded Coco Gauff or Sofia Kenin in the quarterfinals.