Spanish stars are tuning up for Melbourne going toe-to-toe in Mallorca.
Rafael Nadal and Davis Cup teammate Roberto Bautista Agut are gearing up for the Australian Open with some spirited sparring sessions at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.
Korda: Agassi Sees Game in a Different Way
The second-ranked Nadal is aiming to take sole possession of the men's Grand Slam record he shares with Roger Federer by capturing a record-extending 21st Grand Slam championship down under.
A year ago, Bautista Agut and Nadal joined forces for the ATP Cup leading Spain to the final where it fell to the Novak Djokovic-led Serbian squad.
The Australian Open starts on February 8th. Nadal is playing for his first AO title since he out-dueled rival Roger Federer in a five-set epic in the 2009 final.
Six-time AO champion Federer has withdrawn from Melbourne.
Reigning champion Djokovic is aiming for his ninth AO championship while continuing his quest to surpass Federer's mark for most weeks as world No. 1.
The 34-year-old Nadal dismantled Djokovic in the French Open final for his 13th Roland Garros title, but has not defeated the Serbian on a hard court since the 2013 US Open final.
Djokovic, who holds a narrow 29-27 lead over Nadal in the head-to-head series, has called his 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 conquest of the king of clay in the 2019 AO final the closest to perfect he's played.
Nadal may want to pick Bautista Agut's brain for tips on topping the world No. 1 on hard court. Bautista Agut beat Djokovic in back-to-back hard-court meetings at the 2019 Doha and Miami Open before Djokovic gained a measure of revenge with a 2019 Wimbledon semifinal win and a 7-6 in the third victory over Bautista Agut in the Western & Southern Open semifinals last August.
We'd love to sit in on the conversation between Bautista Agut, Nadal and his coach, former world No. 1 Carlos Moya.
Photo credit: @Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar