Rafael Nadal will begin his bid for a Madrid three-peat when he takes the court on Wednesday against Steve Johnson. Kei Nishikori and David Goffin are also in second-round action.
(3) Rafael Nadal vs. Steve Johnson
With the French Open three weeks away, Nadal’s urgency to emerge from a season-long slump will reach new heights when he contests his opening match at the Madrid Masters on Wednesday. Nadal is just 19-7 for his 2015 campaign and has only one final appearance (won Buenos Aires) in eight tournaments. So far on clay, the fourth-ranked Spaniard has losses to Novak Djokovic (Monte-Carlo semifinals) and Fabio Fognini (Barcelona third round). If there is any good news for Nadal, it is that he has captured the Madrid title on back-to-back occasions after failing to do so in both 2011 and 2012.
Up first for Nadal is Johnson, whom the Spaniard has never faced. Johnson owns 14 of his 40 career ATP-level match victories already this season after outlasting Alejandro Gonzalez 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) on Monday. The 54th-ranked American is coming off a second-round Houston setback against Sam Querrey and an opening loss in Monte-Carlo to John Isner. He would much prefer to contest this one on a hard court, but the relatively fast conditions in Madrid will at least help him be competitive.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 8-10 games
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David Goffin vs. (4) Kei Nishikori
Nishikori and Goffin will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time this spring when they do battle on Wednesday in Madrid. They just squared off last month on the hard courts of Miami, where Nishikori rolled 6-1, 6-2. Goffin almost failed to get another shot in this matchup, but he managed to prevent the unexpected by fighting past Ernests Gulbis 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 on Monday. The 21st-ranked Belgian is just 10-9 on the year, but he has won six of his last nine matches.
There is nothing not to like about Nishikori’s prospects in Madrid. The Japanese star finished runner-up at this event last spring and seemed to be on his way to the title until an injury forced him to retire in the third set against Nadal. Still in outstanding form after a breakout 2014, Nishikori is 26-5 this season with a pair of titles–one in Barcelona two weeks ago. Goffin should at least win more games than he did in Miami, but the world No. 5 is simply too good right now.
Pick: Nishikori in 2
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These were the good old days!
Monalisa (at 7:46 pm),:
This photo was taken in Barcelona last month.
#SpambotAlert
The madness is underway.
Nadal in 2 losing 5 games and Nishikori in 2 losing 8 games or less
aggressive calls
Rafa in Madrid is just too fantastico. I love Steve Johnson, but he’s toast in that atmosphere.
I have Rafa in two losing 5-7 games..hope the right Rafa shows up…good that he is back to his old racquet because it certainly did not work with the new one…and now that he is a doctor his confidence should go high… 🙂
He should play with the Dr’s hat, it would add a bit of flair to it all
^^ hilarious!
No, he looks too much like James Blake with that hat.
#GoBlake
Does anybody know if the match has started?
No, it’s after the Serena-Vika match currently in the 3rd set.
http://www.definish.com/tennis/
Thx hawkeye63, I’m here at work and kept wondering when the heck it was going to start, looks like Serena is having a tough one
Great match. I’m watching the last few games. Serena still undefeated this year!
Serena now up 5-4 on serve in the 3rd.
Only 7 BPs in the match so far. Pretty impressive for WTA.
Vika saves a break/match point on a great point.
5-all.
Vika the whooping crane serving for the match up 30-0.
Serena saves one MP. 40-15.
I think Serena is going to lose for the 1st time this year
40-30.
Vika thought she had an ace but was out.
Double fault. Serena saved 3 MP in a row. Deuce.
Maybe I spoke too soon..
Two double faults in a row. BP Williams.
Three double faults in a row! Vika chokes in what has otherwise been a very high quality match,
Tiebreak will decide it.
2-0 Serena. minibreak.
Back on serve 2-1.
Sorry Serena still up a minibreak. 3-1.
4-1
5-1
6-1
The choke is still choking Azarenka
Lol!!! Love it!!! Let me not laugh, I ve seen a lot of that from Rafa lately!!
Serena wins a very tough first match draw in Azarenka.
#GWOAT
Navratilova?
In her time, no doubt. I put Graf above her.
#IMHO
https://twitter.com/stu_fraser/status/595966254449561601
Rafa time.
https://twitter.com/SI_Tennis/status/595965562653573121
Need to leave in 15 mins so I’m going to miss it. I hope Rafa has a placid win
Wow. A good drinking game would be every time a commie mentions fognini during Rafa’s match. Already over 12.
Rafa serves out the first set at Love.
Vamos!
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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEVZu87WYAEjs-O.png
Type (b) robopost…
https://tenngrand.com/social/player-pages/rafael-nadal/comment-page-55/#comment-190471
I’ve become immune to the constant repetition. Any player who beats Rafa on any surface – even more so if it was on clay – is defined forever by that win even if they never repeat the feat.
Jaysus, this commie can’t stop talking about Rafa’s clay losses this year.
#Fedolerazzi
hows rafa playing today?
Not bad for a first round match. Infinitely better than Barcelona loss to Fogna.
infinitely better…lol. Thanks hawkeye
Rafa breaks now serving 4-3 in the 2nd!!!
#Vamos!
Double match point for Rafa on Johnson’s serve.
30-40. Johnson went for broke.
Stay tuned for bot animated gif and bot repost of match stats
#Excited
type B-3.
Vamos! Rafa picks up a solid win looking good. Bolelli next.
May 6, 2015 at 4:34 pm,
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Stay tuned for this ongoing madness.
type (c) robopost (nothing original to say about tennis)
https://tenngrand.com/social/player-pages/rafael-nadal/comment-page-55/#comment-190471
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEVid01WgAAvoOd.png
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEVigHxWAAAs_Fu.png
Hilariously predictable!!!
Now where is the animated gif???
May 6, 2015 at 4:43 pm,
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Someone’s madness is going on! 😆
^^^ Type (c) robopost with nothing original related to tennis.
What you might call a satisfactory day at the office. Rafa playing within himself and no sign of the anxiety and nerves which beset him in his earlier matches this season. A tad too many UEs for my liking but the serving stats were particularly encouraging.
BTW Hawkeye: what was the final score for the references to Foggy?
Everything is a blur right now ed.
#Hangover
I thought Johnson would be a handful for a diffident Rafa with his big serve so I’m very pleased with his day at the office today.
Vamos Rafa
Rafa found a lot of depth on his shots today that has been sorely missing in his recent losses.
Indeed….i guess it was the Rafa to blame after all!!!!
Good job, Rafa!
http://www.funutilities.com/files/smileys/07/02/99.gif
… as predicted. Type (b) robopost.
Hilarious!!!
#TrainedSeal
May 6, 2015 at 5:04 pm,
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chloro seems to know that you are hungry for praise and starving for appreciation. I think, he will feed you soon.
Hilarious! 😆
I get plenty enough from you!!#
Thank you My fan.
Hilarious!!!
#Empty seats
Must have been that crazy Madrid traffic. :eyeroll:
Didn’t bother watching Rafa’s match, knew Johnson was toast. Will make an effort when he plays Baby Fed………..
@ATPWorldTour 2m2 minutes ago
.@RafaelNadal says, “I know things are going to work out… I haven’t lost my game.” http://bit.ly/1EhirRx #atp
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEV-W-qWYAA0Mhk.jpg
Oh, yes you have Rafa! Cant wait for you to find it ASAP!!! Hope you do by FO!!
“I know things are going to work out,” said Nadal. “I haven’t lost my game. I just need to build my confidence and it’ll work out. I know that either sooner or later it will come back. That’s what I want to think. I’m convinced about it. It’s matter of time. Let’s see when it happens.”
#NID
#FutureNo1
Rafa, plz stop talking, let your racket do that!!!