The Madrid title comes down to Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori on Sunday. Nadal is going for a three-peat at the event, while Murray is aiming for winner’s trophies in consecutive weeks.
Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray will be facing each other for the 21st time in their careers when they battle for the Mutua Madrid Open title on Sunday.
Nadal is dominating the head-to-head series 15-5, including 6-0 on clay. They have not squared off since last year’s clay-court swing, during which the Spaniard prevailed 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 in Rome and 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 at the French Open. Nadal is 14-2 lifetime in total sets at Murray’s expense on the slow stuff. Murray has not won a match against Nadal since the 2011 Tokyo final, although they have met only twice since that encounter.
Nadal was hoping to emerge from a season-long slump in either Monte-Carlo or Barcelona, but that did not happen. The world No. 4 lost 6-3, 6-3 to Novak Djokovic at the former and got upset by Fabio Fognini at the latter. Things may be turning around in Madrid, where Nadal is the two-time defending champion. He did not drop set en route to the title match while taking out Steve Johnson, Simone Bolelli, Grigor Dimitrov, and Tomas Berdych.
“For the past couple of days I have been playing better and better every day,” Nadal assessed. “That’s always very good news. I am in the final. I am happy for that. I am enjoying a lot the fact that I am playing in front of an unbelievable crowd. For me, that’s the best crowd in the world without any doubt. So that gives me a lot of really positive energy.”
Murray also has plenty of momentum, having already secured one title this week (at the rain-delayed Munich tournament). The third-ranked Scot booked his spot in the Madrid final thanks to victories over Philipp Kohlschreiber, Marcel Granollers, Milos Raonic, and Kei Nishikori. He has surrendered just one set, to Kohlschreiber. Murray is 29-5 on the season with runner-up showings at both the Australian Open and the Miami Masters.
“Against Rafa it is going to be extremely difficult, especially playing here in Spain,” the second seed assured. “I think he’s played very well this week, too. Hopefully I can put in a good performance and make it tough for him.”
It almost certainly won’t be easy for Nadal, who still may not been in dominant form even though he has clearly heated up since the most glaring struggles in Miami and Barcelona. But there is no reason to think his unblemished record against Murray on this surface will end–especially not at home in Spain.
Pick: Nadal in 2
[polldaddy poll=8856101]
amy,
I appreciate the fact that you have other favorites. You really don’t have to explain why you can’t watch. We all handle it in our own way. There is no wrong or right way.
You are in the minority for sure! For me it’s just Rafa. But I can enjoy watching the other players. I just love tennis.
Ricky said it depends on the draw. For now I am sure that Rafa is just concentrating on Rome. I have learned to never say never in this sport. That’s why I won’t say anything more until we get to RG and the draw is out.