Familiar foes Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka will add another chapter to their rivalry when they meet in the Madrid third round on Thursday. Alexander Zverev and Hubert Hurkacz are also aiming for a place in the quarterfinals.
(6) Kei Nishikori vs. Stan Wawrinka
Nishikori and Wawrinka will be facing each other for the 11th time in their careers and for the seventh time since the start of 2016 when they battle for a spot in the Mutua Madrid Open quarterfinals on Thursday. The head-to-head series stands at 6-4 in favor of Wawrinka, who has won two in a row against Nishikori (6-4, 6-4 last summer in Cincinnati and 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 earlier this year in Rotterdam).
At times this season, however, Nishikori has been on fire. The world No. 7 from Japan opened with a title in Brisbane and reached the Australian Open quarters (retired against Novak Djokovic). He cooled off in March and April but showed signs of his January self with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over in-form qualifier Hugo Dellien on Wednesday. Wawrinka has advanced with straight-set defeats of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Guido Pella. This could either way, obviously, but in Nishikori’s last six Madrid appearances he has reached at least the quarterfinals on five occasions–including one runner-up performance. The only exception came last year when he ran into none other than Djokovic in the opening round.
Pick: Nishikori in 3
[polldaddy poll=10314110]
(Q) Hubert Hurkacz vs. (3) Alexander Zverev
The Madrid faithful would have preferred to see David Ferrer play in this match, but Zverev sent the 37-year-old Spaniard into retirement with a 6-4, 6-1 victory on Wednesday night. Ferrer led 4-1 in the first set only to see Zverev reel off 11 of the next 12 games. It was a much-needed win for the third-ranked German, who has been off his game this entire year and is defending 1000 points from his 2018 Madrid triumph.
Up next for Zverev on Thursday is a first-ever showdown against Hurkacz, who is enjoying a meteoric rise at the moment. The 52nd-ranked Pole has already earned more than half of his lifetime ATP-level match wins this season (11 of 19), which includes two upsets of Nishikori en route to quarterfinal finishes in Dubai and Indian Wells. Hurkacz’s huge game is working well in the Madrid altitude, helping him to successful qualification followed by straight-set routs of Alex de Minaur and Lucas Pouille. Don’t be surprised if Hurkacz’s hot streak continues at the expense of a struggling opponent.
Pick: Hurkacz in 3
[polldaddy poll=10314327]
WWW?
Yep, agree: the impressive qualifier, Hubert Hurkacz, in 3.
Also agree with Ricky about Kei in 3.
Amazing that you’re picking a qualifier over the world #3, but I think you may be right. In the other match, I think Wawa is heating up. He’s shown signs of his best form in the last two matches, and if he’s on, he has too much firepower for Nish. Stan in two.
amazing? Hurkacz should be favored….
Well, as I said, I think I agree. It’s just very unusual that the world #3 would be an underdog against a qualifier.
Stan and Hurcacz in 3
I think the bookies have got this right, Zverev’s results of late are suspect. I actually think he’s on a downward spiral which might continue indefinately.
Since the clay season started
He beat FAA in one of FAAs first ATP matches in clay
He lost to Fognini in straight
He lost to Jarry in 1st round of Barcelona
He won a challenger level match against Londero in Munich
He lost to Garin the next round and was probably lucky to win the a set.
He beat Ferrer in his last year on tour and dealing with an injury.
Hurkacz hasnt looked close to dropping a set since start of qualifying.
R. Carballés Baena is a pretty good formline and so is Pouille who won a challenger last week and beat Coric in straight.
Hurkacz in 3
Nishikori v Wawrinka is a tough one. I’ll go Wawrinka in 3. He’s the slightly better clay courter and just beat 2 good opponents in straight easily. Medvedev beat Nishikori and Wawrinka just beat Pella 63 64 who just beat Medevedev easily. Nishikori was broken twice in his last match. Wawrinka has dropped a service game so far.
Wawrinka in 3
How was it one of FAA’s first ATP clay matches? He reached Rio final in February
Masters, sorry.
Stan and Hurkacz in three.Tsitsipas and Thiem in three. Rafa and Djoko in two; Fed in three; Djere in two.
U fruit loops must be trippin to think Nishikori will win BAHAHAHAH. U f#ckin loco
Nishi in 2; ZV in 2….and Zv handled that Ferrer match in a VERY classy manner!