Stan Wawrinka and Nick Kyrgios are set for an intriguing matchup on Wednesday in Madrid. Second-round action is also wrapping up with a showdown between Kei Nishikori and Fabio Fognini.
(4) Stan Wawrinka vs. Nick Kyrgios
Wawrinka and Kyrgios will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers and for the fourth time in less than 12 months when they meet again in round two of the Mutua Madrid Open on Wednesday. The head-to-head series stands at 2-1 in favor of Wawrinka, but that hardly tells the full story. Their Montreal showdown last summer was, of course, one of the most contentious matches in recent tennis history. It ended in a retirement by Wawrinka with Kyrgios leading 6-7(8), 6-3, 4-0. Their next encounter–which involved no such controversy–also resulted in a retirement, this time by Kyrgios while he trailed 6-4, 3-0 in the Dubai semifinals earlier this season. Only their first contest was completed, with Wawrinka getting the job done 6-3, 6-4 on the grass courts of Queen’s Club.
Kyrgios ensured another installment of the rivalry when he took care of Guido Pella 7-6(7), 6-4 on Tuesday. The 21-year-old Australian is coming off a semifinal performance in Estoril, where he beat Inigo Cervantes and Borna Coric before falling to Nicolas Almagro. Wawrinka has played only seven matches since capturing the Dubai title. The fourth-ranked Swiss lost in the last 16 in Indian Wells, in his opening match at the Miami Masters, and to Rafael Nadal in the Monte-Carlo quarterfinals. Wawrinka has been far less than his best of late and does not have match under his belt like his opponent, so this could be competitive. But clay–even in Madrid–favors the reigning French Open champion, who will likely find the range in time to scrape past Kyrgios.
Pick: Wawrinka in 3
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Fabio Fognini vs. (6) Kei Nishikori
Nishikori and Fognini will be going head-to-head for just the second time in their careers and for the first time in more than five years. They previously faced each other at the 2011 Australian Open, where Nishikori prevailed 6-1, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4. The world No. 6 has been one of the best players on tour this year, with consecutive runner-up finishes in his last two tournaments (Miami and Barcelona). His 23-7 record also includes a title on the indoor hard courts of Memphis.
The same cannot be said of Fognini, who is 9-7 with only one trip past a quarterfinal. That came last week in Munich, where the 31st-ranked Italian got blown out by Philipp Kohlschreiber. Fognini rebounded to hammer Bernard Tomic 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday. But going up against Tomic on clay amounts to little more than an automatic bye at the moment. A date with the sixth seed will be an exponentially tougher task. Conditions should be perfect for Nishikori, who almost won the Madrid title in 2014 (retired after leading Nadal in the final) and reached the semis last season.
Pick: Nishikori in 2
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who ya got?
Both head cases, Nick and Fog, will lose in straight!!!
Love both of them — Kei & Fabio. Guessing Kei in Madrid. Forza Fabio in Rome and Paris! Hope he’s getting closer to his best form on clay after the injury in Rio.
Vamos Delpo!
Vamos Nick…I meant!
I think Nishi will beat Fog in 2 sets
I want Kyrgios to beat Stan so that he can’t gain any points on Rafa, but I am not sure about how this match will play out. Stan has been good on clay, so the surface favors him. But he has not looked good lately. However, Kyrgios can be unpredictable. I can see it going 3 sets, but I think Stan will pull out the win. I would love to be wrong though!
Stan and Kei in 3.. Get used to conditions first. Nah on second thoughts … Going in straights
Bravo Nick! Go for it! Stay calm in the second and the match is yours!
Go Nick!
Wawrinka serving to stay in the match
It’s absolutely disgraceful how the spectators are booing nick constantly. Yes he has done bad stuff in the past but he hasn’t done anything recent or at the time to deserve it. IT’s disgusting how everyone hops on the hate bandwagon when kyrgios slightly argues everything.
E.g. In the midst of that tie break second serve it was called out where kyrgios was complaining quite fairly that it was in and by looking at the reply and the mark it was clearly in but guess what the crowd was booing him like he was some type of asshole around it and he was in the wrong
Im happy he won the first set shoves it right in the face of the spectators that were booing him wrongfully!!
agreed (if true)
The crowd always reacts to any type of complaint so I would not interpret it as disrespectful of Nick…but I agree Nick was probably right to disagree with umpire decision…the ball definitely seemed to be in…
Young guns continue doing miracles! Great win for Nick!
Mentally stable Nick can beat just about anyone! Good match out playing Wawa! And very nice and respectful hand shake at the net by the young Australian! I am pleased with the way Nick is improving in terms of his on court behavior!
It’s gonna be tough against LaMonf (most likely!) unless Monfils is plagued with that ankle injury…
Rafa now has a chance at 4 seed
Yep!
The gap between Rafa and Waw is currently 6380 – 5405 = 975 points.
Rafa has to play well in Madrid and Rome.
Waw will play an ATP-250 tournament after Rome.
Nick ! So proud of him. That was impressive ??
big man tennis
How did Nishi manage to lose the second set?!
Fabio had an abdominal injury around the time of Rio. He has been slowly coming back. I thought this could go 3 sets – it was time for Fogna to get it together – ahead of Rome and Paris. Enjoying this, either way. Simon wins in 3! Simon likes Madrid.
That’s what I want to know!
OMG, as much as I love Kei — so happy to see Fabio playing like this and fighting for it. He’s got a break in the 3rd set, mamma mia, now can he hold serve? Gonna be tough.
?? lol, it’z far from over. Fognini serving for the match.
I was hoping that Kyrgios could take out Stan. He played really well and did just that! I picked Stan to win, but said that I would be fine if he loses. Now Rafa has a shot at the #4 ranking.
Now can Fog get the upset win against Nishi?
Lol funny thing is Stan would’ve been close to #2 if he’d won the tournament. Instead he gives Rafa a good chance to catch him soon.
Djokovic d. Coric 6-2, 6-4. He wasn’t great.
An improvement from MC. I’ll take it.
I can’t watch Ferrer lose. ?
he wont
Nishi got the break to make it 5-5.
and naturally won from there
I was out all day today so haven’t seen any of the action. Just glad Stan can’t add any points in Madrid I don’t care who beats him.