Madrid third round
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Jarkko Nieminen: Nadal in 2. Nadal is 17-1 lifetime in total sets against Nieminen. Not much is going to change–especially not on clay.
(12) Grigor Dimitrov vs. (6) Tomas Berdych: Dimitrov in 3. Dimitrov leads the head-to-head series 2-0 and he is much-improved since the previous times they faced each other. Clay also should favor the Bulgarian.
(LL) Lukasz Kubot vs. Roberto Bautista Agut: Bautista Agut in 2. On one hand Kubot’s luck as lucky loser has continued with an unseeded opponent in the third round of a Masters event. Playing an in-form Bautista Agut on the road in Spain and on clay, however, will not be fun.
(Q) Santiago Giraldo vs. (7) Andy Murray: Giraldo in 3. Murray got past a less-than-100 percent Nicolas Almagro, but he was not inspiring. Giraldo is playing the best tennis of his career and clay obviously gives him his best–and only–opportunity in this matchup.
(8) Milos Raonic vs. (10) Kei Nishikori: Nishikori in 2. Based on their respective forms, only grass could save Raonic in this one. Nishikori is one of the best players on tour at the moment.
Feliciano Lopez vs. (Q) Dominic Thiem: Thiem in 3. Thiem may not be consistent enough to finish the job in straight sets, but the discrepancy in talent will be too much for Lopez to overcome. Although the Spaniard is at home, he is not at his best on clay.
(5) David Ferrer vs. (9) John Isner: Ferrer in 3. Amazingly enough, Isner is actually 0-3 against Ferrer on U.S. hard courts. This match, of course, is taking place in the exact opposite setting: in Spain and on clay. Still, Isner will make it tough on the No. 5 seed.
Ernests Gulbis vs. Marin Cilic: Gulbis in 3. Gulbis probably should win this in straights, based on the surface. But there a lot of things Gulbis should do that he doesn’t. Look for him to get a win after making it harder than necessary.
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