Familiar foes Kei Nishikori and David Ferrer will collide again on Friday in Madrid. Andy Murray and Milos Raonic are also in quarterfinal action.
(7) David Ferrer vs. (4) Kei Nishikori
Nishikori and Ferrer will be squaring off for the 12th time in their careers, the third time this season, and the seventh time since the start of 2014 when they renew their rivalry in the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open on Friday. The head-to-head series stands at 7-4 in favor of Nishikori, who won their only previous clay-court encounter 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-3 in the semis of this same Madrid event last spring. The Japanese star also prevailed 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 at the Australian Open earlier this year, but Ferrer exacted revenge in the form of a 6-3, 7-5 triumph in the Acapulco title match.
Both men are in absolutely outstanding form in 2015. Nishikori is 28-5 following victories this week over David Goffin and Roberto Bautista Agut. The world No. 5 is two wins away from a second straight Madrid final and fourth final this season (two titles, one runner-up). Ferrer booked his spot in the last eight by defeating fellow Spaniards Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Fernando Verdasco. The seventh seed is 29-5 on the year; by comparison, he was a more modest 25-8 last season going into his Madrid showdown against Nishikori. One of the best returners in the game, especially at the expense of opponents with unimposing deliveries, Ferrer may be able to capitalize on home-court advantage this time around.
Pick: Ferrer in 3
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(5) Milos Raonic vs. (2) Andy Murray
Murray and Raonic will be facing each other for the sixth time in their careers on Friday. Raonic leads the head-to-head series 3-2, including 1-0 on clay (6-4, 7-6(3) at the 2012 Barcelona tournament). Murray, however, cruised through their most recent meeting 6-3, 7-5 last fall at the World Tour Finals.
Raonic has advanced in Madrid with straight-set scalps of Juan Monaco and Leonardo Mayer. Murray enjoyed a similarly routine day at the office on Thursday against Marcel Granollers, but that was preceded by a match that ended at 3:00 a.m. the previous night (or morning). Murray, the recent Munich champion, beat Philipp Kohlschreiber for the second time in three days and he needed three sets both times. Even if Raonic is completely recovered from his foot injury, big servers almost never like seeing Murray on the other side of the net.
Pick: Murray in 3
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Don’t think Raonic is fully recovered from his injury. Still limping a bit and looked cranky today.
Nishikori should win