Top seeds have been dropping like flies in the top half of the Indian Wells draw, but a quarterfinal contest between Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios is possible. They first have to get past Reilly Opelka and Jannik Sinner, respectively.
(4) Rafael Nadal vs. (17) Reilly Opelka
The only previous meeting between Nadal and Opelka has come on clay at the 2021 Rome Masters, where the Spaniard cruised 6-4, 6-4. Does Opelka think he has a better chance on a hard court? The 6’11” American was asked that question following his 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Denis Shapovalov in round three of the BNP Paribas Open on Monday. “Not really,” Opelka quipped.
You can forgive the world No. 17 for not being too confident. After all, Nadal is the best player on tour right now. The 35-year-old is 17-0 this season with three titles–including at the Australian Open–and he raised his level on the heels of a first-round struggle against Sebastian Korda to defeat Dan Evans 7-5, 6-3 on Monday. Conditions are not bad for Opelka in the desert, but the chances of him limiting the length of rallies to the extent that he can pull off an upset or even steal a set are slim.
Pick: Nadal 2
(10) Jannik Sinner vs. (WC) Nick Kyrgios
You never know when Kyrgios is suddenly going to be motivated to play tennis and even win tennis matches. From completely out of nowhere, the 26-year-old is doing both this fortnight. Since Wimbledon last summer, Kyrgios had won a grand total of two matches heading into this tournament. He has already won three in Indian Wells. The 132nd-ranked Aussie is though to the round of 16 following straight-set defeats of Sebastian Baez, Federico Delbonis, and Casper Ruud.
Up next for Kyrgios on Wednesday is a first-ever meeting with Sinner. The 20-year-old Italian has advanced with victories over Laslo Djere and Benjamin Bonzi–dropping one set to a red-hot Bonzi in the process. Sinner is an awesome 13-2 in 2022 and has climbed to No. 10 in the world. Kyrgios obviously has the talent to win this one–just as he can against any opponent on any day–but his motivation level could take a dip now that arch rival Ruud is out of the way. The Aussie also didn’t look entirely 100 percent physically despite his strong performance against the Norwegian. Kyrgios’ run will likely come to an end at the hands of an in-form Sinner.
Pick: Sinner in 3
WWW?
Nadal in 3, Sinner in 2
Rafa in 2; Sinner in 2.
Totally agree w/ RD picks
Rafa in 3 if he takes time to figure out Opelka”s game/ serve, otherwise in 2!
Vamos!!!
Sinner pulls out so Kyrgios is through.
unfortunate
But Rafa has to face an even bigger sinner..
Not sure what to make of this foot injury ..does he think it’s ok to keep playing and compromising it close to clay season ? Thankfully last on hard but will this foot get okay for clay or some treatment will be needed? Any idea folks?
https://mobile.twitter.com/gigicat7_/status/1504247049818193920
I just can’t help remembering 2009 and how he screwed his year after starting so well by keeping on playing n not resting ..it was the knee there though ..just want 1 more slam this year at any cost ..
Oh God! Not Kyrgios!
Oh no! Not Kyrios!!! Y must they always fit the weirdos in Rafa”s half? Sigh!
Total bummer! Can’t believe Sinner pulled out and gave Curious a w/o. Never thought he’d get this far. I also don’t think he’ll get past Rafa but it’s not a match I’d enjoy watching.
Anyhoo, congrats to Rafa on making his 98th Masters q/f!! Love seeing him setting all these “longevity” records, but I expect Rafa has mixed feelings about that. He’s started describing his age as “almost 36”. /sigh Well, he looks darn good to this “almost 83 yo”!
Nick is a complete joke exhibition style.Why would Rafa or anyone else take him seriously?
Rafa does not want to entertain the thought of a tie break and neither do I!!
Rafa perhaps needs to move closer to the baseline bcoz his returns come up short. What r his options here?
I was looking forward to the TB because every error counts so giants cannot serve themselves out of their errors and Rafa was holding his serve well. He lost just 3 points on his serve up to the TB.
Vamos!! He did it!!! Set 1 in the bag! If Rafa wins this match his record for the season moves to 18-O ahead of Roger and behind only Novak”s record of 41-0 and 26-0!
Novak’s 41 and 26 are well beyond this stage in the season. 41 wins would take him up to the final of Roland Garros.
Lol, I’m not expecting him to achieve these records, as a matter of fact he doesn’t have to, I’m just happy he is now part of that conversation!! 😀
Rafa to me has exposed certain elements of Opelka”s game in that the big man is really not much without his serve! He already looks tired as I’m sure that was part of Rafa”s strategy, and so movement and fitness wise Rafa is not really a good match up for the American! But at least he’s making a match of it!! Hope Rafa doesn’t get broken!
Damn it!! Spoke too soon!! He was doing so well!! Sigh!! I just had this feeling!! Rafa just gave away that game with his DFs!! Choopz!!
Yahoo!! Yes, yes, yes!! 18:0!! Vamos!!
I c Rafa and I r here all alone, lol!
https://twitter.com/christophclarey/status/1504242642409844736?s=20&t=pIhPzpD4UmpI-AazCqvHmg
I watched the match. I always get nervous when Rafa plays these giants. But I thought this was Rafa’s best match so far. He had that one bad game in the second set that cost him a break. But he broke back.
It is concerning to read that Rafa is still bothered by pain in the foot.
All I need is to watch disgusting Kyrgios play Rafa. I dread these matches.
I’m hoping for Rafa to win this title. He can then take a good rest of about three weeks before MC starts.
I’ll stay positive about his foot issue, I think if he is not feeling ok, he can withdraw from this tournament. If he carries on playing, I think he knows the foot issue is manageable.
It’s a bit different from the situation last year; his foot was not ok then, resulting in him withdrawing from the ATP cup and not playing any warm up event before the AO. He then withdrawn from Acapulco and Miami, and by the clay season, he wasn’t playing well by his standard, his foot clearly bothering him.
He’s ok this year, playing 18 matches on HC and manages to win them all. I don’t think he’ll run the risk of getting injured before the clay season, hence he withdraws from Miami to give himself more time to rest before the clay season starts.
I trust that he and his team will do their best to protect him from any injury, at least to stay fit and healthy throughout the clay season (and I hope beyond that too).
Thank you luckystar, you summed up my thoughts exactly. I too agree, he should finish this tournament and then rest for 3 weeks before the clay season. Though he’s feeling pain, it’s not too severe that he has to withdraw, if not he would have withdrawn and not even play Acapulco let alone Indian wells. His doctors are advising him so I trust his judgment and I believe that his foot issue will not hinder him in the clay season and French open. He’ll be well rested.
I have confidence in Rafa’s team. If the pain got worse then Rafa would pull out. He is not going to do anything to jeopardize the clay season. If he can handle the foot and feels able to play, then so be it.
I will be a wreck for this match with Kyrgios. I was nervous with Opelka, but this is even worse. Kyrgios is a nasty piece of work.
Mighty fine from Rafa. Down with tennis giants, go play ping pong!
I was very nervous about this match but the feeling of elation when Rafa comes through makes the anxiety worth it. Winning matches like this should calm my nerves next time I see Opelka in his path, but the truth is I will still get nervous even though Rafa in now 14:1 against Karlovic, Isner and Opelka. The one loss being at the Laver Cup Exho which was retrospectively included in the ATP H2H.
I am not too worried about Kyrgios tbh. The way Rafa was returning yesterday he should be able to handle Kyrgios’s serve and Rafa’s ground strokes are excellent atm.
Vamos Rafa!
His movement nadline ? Any limitations ?
Both fh n bh firing ?
No movement limitations but he didn’t really get too many chances to “fire” FHs or BHs. His serve worked pretty okay though.
I’m more nervous about Kyrios breaking Rafa’s winning streak than Kyrios beating Rafa, if you know what I mean! Don’t want this braggart to be entitled to any bragging rights! Vamos, Rafa!!
I feel exactly the same way! That is the first thing I thought about. Kyrgios would love to end Rafa’s winning streak.
That’s what motivates Kyrgios. Another reason I dislike him.
Yes NK is a douchebag!
I really don’t want him to beat Rafa.
He epitomizes toxic masculinity.
Rafa will win this one..Foot has to hold up for the remaining matches.
He does indeed! I loathe NK and don’t plan to watch the match. I hope Rafa wins, of course, but if someone had told me that Rafa would start this year by winning 3 tournaments, including AO!, win his first 18 matches, but lose in the IW quarters…well, as Rafa says, “You got paper? I gonna sign!”
I watched the second set of Rafa vs Opelka. Playing such a servebot is hardly tennis. Nadal’s stoicism is out of this world, I think that only Agassi came close.
The bouncy court really favoured Opelka, the ball was jumping an absurd 2.2 meters off his serve. Because Nadal was returning the serve from a height of 1.6m, it was hard to keep the ball low so it was pretty easy for the American to hammer winners even from the back of the court.
It looked to me like Rafa was struggling and not playing too good, but apparently he was happy with his performance under the circumstances. He got no rhythm and missed some easy shots because of it, but I guess that he expected all of that.