Rafael Nadal is going to be "an absolute animal" at Australian Open 2023, predicts Mats Wilander

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander recently claimed that Rafael Nadal's achievement of winning every Grand Slam twice in his career is an important differentiating factor between him and Roger Federer. He also predicted that Nadal would be at his fearsome best at the upcoming Australian Open, where he is the defending champion.

The Spaniard's win in Melbourne last year took him ahead of the Swiss in the Grand Slam race. It also made him only the third man after Rod Laver and Novak Djokovic to win all the Majors at least twice.

Wilander pointed out while speaking with Eurosport that Nadal now has the ability to win on different surfaces and venues.

"Having won there for the second time for someone like him, now he has won all of the Majors twice or more, that's massive," Wilander said. "That's where he separates himself from the great Roger Federer, who only won one French Open. So Rafa now knows how to win in all the different venues."

The Swede further stated that Rafael Nadal would be an "absolute animal" at the 2023 Australian Open.

"He just has to get there healthy," Wilander added. "He's going to be an absolute animal and I'm sure that he is going to play his best tennis. He has a big chance to win the Australian Open, as he does the French Open."

"Rafael Nadal is going to be there from the first point of the year at the Australian Open" - Mats Wilander

Rafael Nadal serves during a practice session ahead of the 2023 Australian Open

Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open title for a second time last year by beating Daniil Medvedev in an epic five-set final. Wilander claimed that the conditions in Melbourne, with the sun shining brightly, would suit the lefty's game.

"Rafael Nadal is going to be there from the first point of the year at the Australian Open, I am 100 percent sure because of the sun, because of the conditions, because having won there is huge," said Wilander.

Elaborating on his point further, the 58-year-old stressed that the Spaniard's confidence level would go up by "25-50 percent'' if he got the right conditions.

"The sun starts coming out and his tennis ball is suddenly bouncing higher than normal, or at least he feels like he can grip the ball and spin it. That is going to increase his confidence level by maybe 25-50 percent compared to playing indoors where the sun is not shining. I think that is a big difference," he said.