With Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic having exited the proceedings, Milos Raonic and Rafael Nadal are two of the top Australian Open title favorites. They will face each other on Wednesday in a blockbuster quarterfinal contest.
Milos Raonic and Rafael Nadal will be squaring off for the ninth time in their careers when they battle for a semifinal spot at the Australian Open on Wednesday.
Nadal leads the head-to-head series 6-2, but Raonic has won two of their last three encounters dating back to 2015. The Canadian got the job done 4-6, 7-6(10), 7-5 at the Indian Wells Masters two years ago and most recently prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 earlier this month in Brisbane. In between those two contests, Nadal scored a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory at the 2015 Shanghai Masters.
The ninth-ranked Spaniard must be eager to avenge his Brisbane setback, but he almost did not get a chance. Alexander Zverev led Nadal two sets to one during third-round action but ended up falling 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2. Nadal endured a minor scare in his next outing against Gael Monfils only to avoid another five-setter by recovering from a break down in the fourth to win 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Raonic was not been perfect on serve in his last two matches like he was in his first two, but an improving ground game has led to more than enough service breaks of his own. Following defeats of Dustin Brown, Gilles Muller, and Gilles Simon, the No. 3 seed broke Roberto Bautista Agut five times on Monday en route to a 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win.
“I think going to be a tough match for me, for sure,” Nadal commented. “Hopefully for him, too. He’s an opponent that make you feel that you’re playing with a lot of pressure all the time because his serve is huge and he’s playing very aggressive from the baseline. But I hope to be ready for it. I need to be very focused with my serve and play aggressive. If I am not playing aggressive, then I am dead.”
“We both tried to be the aggressors early on,” Raonic said of their Brisbane showdown. “I fought through a difficult moment midway through that second set. Then I thought I had it pretty handily after that point. I broke towards the end of that second set; broke right away in the third, had a lot of love-30 games, had a lot of break chances after that, (and was) holding quite easy. I found that…sort of turning point that I was looking for in that match. Obviously it’s very within me to find those solutions again, I believe.”
In what is sure to be a competitive contest, Raonic’s superior ability to win free points on serve may be the difference. Nadal will undoubtedly have to win plenty of pressure-packed baseline points on his own serve, and just one or two forehand errors at crucial moments could prove to be decisive.
Pick: Raonic in 5
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who ya got?
The man from Mallorca.
Hopefully Rafa wins…but Raonic is favorite.
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atul1985 (AT 2:46 PM),
Raonic isn’t the oddsmakers’ favourite. 🙂
I am hoping that Rafa wins. Sending good thoughts his way for this one!
?
I will bet on over 3.5 sets. I think that is a lock. I think Raonic in 5.
what odds can you get on over 3.5?
Nadal in 5
Gosh I cant wait to wake up and watch this match, around 9 am south african time which is ideal, most of the big matches are… I think Rafa will definitely want to avenge his defeat from two weeks ago, and will look to up it gear, especially since its been a while that he has found himself this close to a major title (dont think he will win it) But will look to outlast Milos over 5 sets and definitely think he will be up for this and change a few things
Rafa in 4 sets, and definitely over 40 games
3:30 AM Eastern
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It won’t be easy; Rafa will have to work for this because if Raonic serves big then Rafa has very little room for errors.
what do you mean “if Raonic serves big”? I think I read he’s already nailed 93 aces or something
hoping Nadal
Rafa still too defensive combined with lingering lapses will lead to his downfall in four sets.
Still a work in progress.
Hoping to be wrong and also about my pretournament pick for champion.
Vamos Rafa no matter what!
Hopefully Moya’s insights might prove the edge that Nadal needs on hard courts, at night, to beat Raonic. Fingers crossed.
Hi,
Here I have read a good comments based on player skill but in some astrologer in western community projects wrong prediction almost 99 percent of time.we needs to ban those blocks ( especially sally kirkman blog ). hopefully nadall will win based on his experience and strategies.im waiting for tennis feast. Vamoss Rafa
Regards,
G saravanan
Rafa will win in 5. However he cannot afford to make too many errors. VAMOS RAFA!
maybe none!
The last two AO Quarterfinals: 1. Pliskova vs Lucic-Baroni followed by 2. Serena vs Konta
Lucic-Baroni won the first set! 64 2-0. Pliskova had three break point and gets the break back 2nd srt but it’s all uphill if Karolina is going to win. Also Pliskova has called a time out to have a nasty foot blister treated. Hope this helps her!
Sorry…posted on the wrong page!
Hey rc..i know you’re crazy about WTA but err…darling Pliskova/Mirjana are on the next block okay?
Btw…Hope rafa can manage his nervousness and emotion better today..I think the key is to tame his inner demon in big moments…Milos is no Monfils..he’s a new generation who’s not afraid and intimidated by rafa’s reputation..he knew rafa is weary and dreaded his big serve and he will capitalize on that for the big part of the match…I just hope Rafa with his big win over Zverev and Monfils and knowing he’s already in QF has enough self belief and confidence to fight with Milos…I think rafa will win in 4 or 5…
a Grand Slam QUARTERFINAL featuring only one of the Big 4 may set a site record for most votes on a poll
Keep your mind focused and sharp like a laser beam, remain confident and be strong like steel, Rafa!
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Vamos Rafa!
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vamossssssssssss! PERFECTION in that game.