Novak Djokovic will try to keep some momentum going when he faces Kyle Edmund in the Madrid second round on Wednesday. Roberto Bautista Agut and Philipp Kohlschreiber are also aiming for a place in the last 16.
Kyle Edmund vs. (10) Novak Djokovic
With the old guard of Marian Vajda and Gebhard Phil-Gritsch back on his team, Djokovic is showing at least some signs of his former self. The 30-year-old Serb is just 6-5 for the season, but his disastrous performances in Indian Wells and Miami appear to be things of the past. He won two matches in Monte-Carlo before falling to Dominic Thiem and bounced back from a Barcelona loss to Martin Klizan by beating Kei Nishikori 7-5, 6-4 at the Mutua Madrid Open on Monday.
Up next for Djokovic on Wednesday is a third career contest against Edmund, who is getting swept in the head-to-head series 3-0 (all on hard courts). The former world No. 1 got the job done in straight sets twice in 2016 (Miami and the U.S. Open) and again in 2017 (Indian Wells). Edmund earned another shot at Djokovic by cruising past Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-0 on Tuesday. The 22nd-ranked Brit struggled with physical issues after making a run to the Australian Open semifinals earlier this season, but he is back in business on clay with a recent runner-up showing in Marrakech. Although Edmund is quite capable on this surface, Djokovic looked good–relatively speaking–against Nishikori and should benefit from having enjoyed a day off.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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Bautista Agut and Kohlschreiber will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers and for the second time in as many weeks when they meet again on Wednesday. Kohlschreiber just prevailed 6-4, 6-4 on his way to a runner-up performance last week in Munich, leveling the head-to-head series at two wins apiece. Their only other clay-court encounter came three years ago in Monte-Carlo, where Bautista Agut survived a 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(4) thriller.
Thanks in part to his Munich result, Kohlschreiber is a lock for French Open seeding at No. 28 in the world and with no points to defend prior to the season’s second slam. The German improved his 2018 record to a mediocre 12-11 by beating Yuichi Sugita 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday. Bautista Agut, who won titles in Auckland and Dubai, is a stellar 17-9 after overcoming Jared Donaldson 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4 in his opener. While Kohlschreiber benefited from home-court advantage in Munich, it is the 14th-ranked Spaniard who has it this time in Madrid–where he is 9-4 lifetime in the main draw with a semifinal showing in 2014. That should help him exact some revenge for last week’s loss.
Pick: Bautista Agut in 3
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Djoko and Bautista in three
Djoker in two Kohl in three
Goud win by Edmund! I was wondering during the match why players couldnt take advantage when a top player was clearly not at his best. I thought Edmund was going to lose this one but strange how things turned around in one game.
Djoko is on his way back, playing and serving well in set two and three; before he lost his serve in his last service game in the third set, he was winning all his service points in the third set, incredible!
Well done to Kohl too, winning a tough match in three sets, after reaching a final last week.
lol I did not think that if I got one wrong it would be the Djokovic Edmund match
Just watched this on replay.. The commies talked up Djokovic throughout the match but glossed over his unforced error count. Agree with the comments he is gradually improving but there’s still a long way to go for the Djoker.
Epic Kohl-Bautista,could have gone either way.
Annoyed at nor picking Raonic on this court.Thought he was injured after pulling out of his last tournament.