Rafael Nadal and Borna Coric will be squaring off for the third time in their careers when they battle for a place in the Western & Southern Open quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon. They have split their two previous encounters; Coric pulled off a 6-2, 7-6(4) upset on the indoor hard courts of Basel in 2014 before Nadal got the job done 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in round one of last summer’s U.S. Open.
Like he did in Basel, Coric may be facing a less-than-1o0 percent opponent in this one. Nadal, of course, is coming off an energy-sapping week at the Rio Olympics. The fifth-ranked Spaniard played 11 total matches, capturing gold in men’s doubles with Marc Lopez before finishing in fourth place in singles. Three days after losing to Kei Nishikori in the bronze-medal showdown, Nadal won his Cincinnati opener 6-1, 7-6(4) over Pablo Cuevas.
“I think I played well,” the third seed commented. “I think I played a good match against a tough opponent in the first round for me for sure. “After coming from Rio and after the marathon that I had, it’s a very important victory for me. So I’m very happy.”
Coric is through to the last 16 following three-set victories over Benoit Paire and Nick Kyrgios. After overcoming Paire 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, the 19-year-old Croat saved one match point to upset Kyrgios 7-6(2), 4-6, 7-6(6) on Wednesday night. This marks just the second time in his last nine events in which Coric has won back-to-back matches.
Current form suggests that Kyrgios–the recent Atlanta champion–would have had a better chance against Nadal in this one. More important, though, is the stylistic matchup. Kyrgios is capable of hitting the former world No. 1 off the court, especially amidst the fast conditions of Cincinnati, with his booming serve and huge forehand. Coric, on the other hand, is a counter-puncher who will be content to engage in baseline rallies. Unless Nadal shows more fatigue than he did against Cuevas, that plan will not work for Coric.
Pick: Nadal in 2
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Rafa for the win in 2 sets. I think Rafa dodged a bullet in avoiding Krygios.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgg4vL8GEjA
Rafa is SPANKING the ball on court 15
Stay focused, remain confident and be brave, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqJ4vZSW8AEaKp_.jpg
ATP World Tour: “Best first-serve % in the past 52 weeks? Rafael Nadal rules at the top”:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqJ3yVmWgAEYvmX.jpg
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live scores says that rafa just lost the first set 6-1 !! what is going on?
Just tuned in…wow 6-1?!!1
i just looked at ricky’s twitter. apparently rafa has had the trainer out. has pains in foot and elbow.
better for him to get some rest maybe?
Rafa injured…left arm is being massaged by the physio.,,Lost the first set 6:1…was unable to put his serve in,,,ROS inexistent…18 UEs.,,poor guy is suffering out there..,
My heart is breaking ..,
Rafa dumped a routine volley into the net..down 2-0 now!! What is happening :S
post-olympics wear and tear vr
he was SO good yesterday! Saw his practice in the morning and he was crushing forehands ….
Dropping the ball so short!!
I hope it is not the wrist 🙁
no elbow and foot vr.
have to say that i was always a lot more concerned about the uso than the olympics.
Finding it hard to keep the ball in play
if he is feeling bad he should get off the court now and rest up for the uso.
Rafa is PISSED…and he can’t even hit a simple CC forehand!!!
Anyone in the top 1000 can beat him at the moment
4-0!! and coric is pumping his fist! what the hell is this
well it must be physical dont’ you think. he called the trainer earlier on…
trainer for what? I couldn’t see
Rafa is injured! Left arm! Rafa received treatment but continued to play! He should have retired!
yes he should get off the court now. coric is like a curse for rafa…
Agreed.
is this a different injury??? WHY IS HE PLAYING
exactly. just get off the court rafa.
Coric will now have a winning record against Nadal! The last match he won was in 2014 BASEL when Rafa played with an appendix issue
Rafa gets one break back thanks to Coric and does a fist pump
I think it is the wrist…. he is avoiding hitting forehands and unnecessarily going for squashed forehands. And whenever stretched, he makes such poor contact on the forehand side
ricky’s twitter says foot and elbow vr.
damn…
That’s what happens when you expose yourself to rigorous compeition after sitting out for 2 months! why the hell did his doctor give the green signal and why have they chosen to play here is beyond me. I have been SHOUTING he should skip Cincy
he played a helluva lot in the olympics after being out for months. very risky. don’t know why he didn’t just get off the court in the first set.