A semifinal spot will be at stake when Rafael Nadal goes up against Andrey Kuznetsov on Thursday in Doha. Novak Djokovic and Leonardo Mayer are also in quarterfinal action.
Andrey Kuznetsov vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
Picking up right where he left off following an impressive 2015 fall swing, Nadal is in fine form early in 2016 as he heads into quarterfinal competition at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Thursday. The fifth-ranked Spaniard won the season-opening exhibition event in Abu Dhabi and so far in Doha he has taken out Pablo Carreno Busta and Robin Haase. Since dropping his opening set to Carreno Busta in a tiebreaker, Nadal has reeled off four in a row via scorelines of 6-3, 6-1, 6-3, and 6-2.
It has already been an outstanding week for Kuznetsov, who punched his ticket to the last eight with straight-set victories over Marsel Ilhan and Ricardas Berankis. This is the 79th-ranked Russian’s second career showdown against Nadal, having previously gone down 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in the third round of last year’s French Open. Kuznetsov is a clean ball-striker who does his best work on the slow stuff, but he does not have the necessary firepower with which to hit Nadal off the court. The No. 2 seed should cruise into the semis without too much trouble.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 5-7 games
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(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (8) Leonardo Mayer
Djokovic and Mayer will also be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Thursday. Their only previous encounter came at the 2014 Australian Open, where Djokovic coasted 6-0, 6-4, 6-4. Based on the Serb’s form, there is no reason to think much will be different this time around. Building on what was a purely dominant 2015 campaign, Djokovic is off to a 2-0 start this season with consecutive 6-2, 6-2 beatdowns of Dustin Brown and Fernando Verdasco.
Mayer has been similarly untouchable through two rounds, having dropped a total of nine games to Benjamin Becker and Pablo Andujar. The 35th-ranked Argentine is likely to narrowly miss out on Australian Open seeding, as he would have to pull off this monumental upset and then reach the Doha final in order to have a chance. Djokovic will not let that happen, as the top seed will be eager to make some kind of amends for his surprising quarterfinal loss at this tournament last year to Ivo Karlovic.
Pick: Djokovic in 2 losing 5-7 games
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Kuznetsov holds in his first service game. Rafa is going to have to turn things around here because he’s given this guy the belief that he has a shot to win this match.
Rafa just avoided walking on the line again while going to his chair.
Not easy to break those tics as nadline pointed out.
What is this business about Rafa avoiding walking on the line? Is this some habit he has in matches?
Kuznetsov is going for his shots, taking the ball early and hitting winners. Rafa needs to get aggressive because this guy isn’t missing.
15-30.
he’s basically on fire
Yes! Unfortunately.
Rafa holds serve! Kuznetsov is pushing Rafa back and he’s forced to play more defensively. But we know that Rafa has excellent defensive skills. Rafa just has to take control here and not let this guy dictate the points by taking the ball so early and going for the angles with his shots.
Kuznetsov holds easily.
They showed a nice graphic of Kuznetsov’s forehand and backhand placement with his shots. He’s going for the lines and hitting them.
Rafa’s serve is poor and so readable. Rafa still insist on hitting CC to opponent’s BH when clearly his BH was doing the damage. Playing like this Rafa doesnt deserve to win.
I hate it when Rafa plays like this, when his opponent is going for broke and hitting hard, Rafa just turns defensive instead of fighting fire with fire. Its difficult for Rafa to get out of this mould.
great service game
Kuznetsov is doing what he has to in order to beat Rafa. Taking the ball early, taking time away from Rafa and just going for the lines. In his case, he’s making them. The question is, can he keep it up?
Rafa is getting pushed back and now has to play more defensively. He has to try and turn the tables, but honestly this guy is just hitting some great shots.
I don’t believe it! Kuznetsov just hit an insane CC forehand to win the point. I thought Rafa had won it, but this guy is coming up with some brilliant shot making here.
this is good
Now this guy is coming to net to serve and volley. Kuznetsov is just holding his service games easily now.
They are tied with baseline points won – 44 points each.
They just posted serve stats by set –
Kuznetsov –
1st set – 56%
2nd set – 50%
3rd set – 70%
Rafa –
1st set – 67%
2nd set – 71%
3rd set – 50%
Rafa has two break points! He breaks! Yes!
Going for broke and so bound to miss at some point, hopefully Rafa consolidates this break.
You will make your opponent look good with a 50% serve.
Now, will Rafa consolidate the break? Or will mental problems continue.
Stay tuned.
Kuznetsov DF’d away the break, but Rafa was playing much better in that game. He was hitting more aggressively and getting more depth on his shots. The commentators just said that Rafa has only made one error in this set. So Rafa has appeared to settle down.
Now Rafa, hold your serve!
How many times???
Mental problems (anxiety) are everywhere.
Kuznetsov did start missing in that service game. So maybe he’s finally going to cool off. But I am not taking anything for granted here.
Rafa – hold your serve two more times!
Kuznetsov not going away – 15-30.
A great ROS from Kuznetsov and he has two break points. I can’t believe this.
If nothing, it’s been exciting.
Never a dull 2 and 2 match with Rafa.