Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal had to face each other in round four of the Indian Wells Masters. This time around in Miami they find themselves on opposite sides of the draw are heavy fourth-round favorites over Roberto Bautista Agut and Nicolas Mahut, respectively, on Tuesday.
(5) Rafael Nadal vs. Nicolas Mahut
Nadal and Mahut will be squaring off for the second time in their careers when they battle for a spot in the Miami Open quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon. The head-to-head series is tied at one win apiece, with Mahut scoring a 7-5, 7-6(0) upset on the grass courts of Queen’s Club in 2007 before Nadal got a retirement from the Frenchman while cruising 6-2, 6-2 at the 2011 U.S. Open. Those results are not too surprising given that Mahut has always been at his best on the green stuff, earning all four of his ATP titles on that surface (three in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, one in Newport). On hard courts this season the 35-year-old had done next to nothing, owning a 4-6 record with no trips past a second round prior to this fortnight. Out of nowhere, though, Mahut is through to the last 16 with victories over Michael Mmoh, Steve Johnson, and Guido Pella.
Like his 55th-ranked opponent, Nadal has survived one three-setter so far on Key Biscayne. The world No. 6 got bageled in the first set of his third-round showdown against Philipp Kohlschreiber but stormed back to get the job done 0-6, 6-2, 6-2. Nadal, who is now 16-4 this year, preceded that win with a more routine 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Dudi Sela. Although Nadal has not been at his absolute best since losing a heartbreaker of an Australian Open final to Roger Federer, he should have more than enough to get past Mahut in these conditions.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 8 games or fewer
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(4) Roger Federer vs. (14) Roberto Bautista Agut
Aside from a shocking loss to Evgeny Donskoy in Dubai, Federer has withstood anything and everything that opponents have thrown at him in 2017. The reigning Australian Open and Indian Wells champion boasts wins this season over Nadal (twice), Stan Wawrinka (twice), Kei Nishikori, Tomas Berdych, Nick Kyrgios, and Jack Sock. The latest challenger was Juan Martin Del Potro, who went down 6-3, 6-4 during third-round action in Miami on Monday. Federer, who opened with a hard-fought 7-6(2), 6-3 victory over qualifier Frances Tiafoe, is making his first appearance at this tournament since 2014 and looking for his first title–and even final–since 2006.
Up next for the 35-year-old Swiss on Tuesday afternoon is Bautista Agut, who is a hopeless 0-5 in the head-to-head series. In fact, even though the sample size is relatively small, this one of the most lopsided matchups in all of tennis. The Spaniard is 0-12 in total sets against Federer and no set has been more competitive than 6-4. If there is any good news for Bautista Agut, it is that he is an awesome 15-3 this season following wins this fortnight over Mikhail Kukushkin and Sam Querrey. No matter how well the world No. 18 is playing, however, he is likely in line for another beatdown at the hands of a red-hot Federer.
Pick: Federer in 2 losing 8 games or fewer
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WWW?
Rafa in 3, maybe 2 really right sets. Federer in 2.
Rafa in 2 if he’s serving well and not nervous,3 if he’s not serving well and nervous like a groom to be!
MA,
I see it pretty much the way you do. I think it’s on Rafa’s racket.
Hey Nny!…I just woke up and YEAH!!!Rafa also see it pretty much like we do Nny!Wooooohoooooo!!…
Stay focused and energized, be confident and brave, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8AwWsUXwAAMoBg.jpg
Haven’t seen Nadal or Mahut this tournament, so really can’t make an informed call other than to state the obvious. However, can’t really see Fed having any trouble with Batista-Agut. Querry would have been a bigger worry.
Rafa’s practice session today focused most on ROS. Moya kept feeding kick serves on both sides and Rafa varied his return position throughout. I think he practices for both and then adjusts in the match.
Fed in two Nadal in three
Also I think Fed loses eight games or fewer
Jack Sock looking better and better. Remains my favourite to make it to the final. Would love to see him square off against Fabio; looking like a real possibility with Rafa and Kei out of sorts.
Having Moya is making Rafa’s practice sessions a bit more particular. They did some really good drills today. Good thing is that Moya has a pretty solid forehand and he has got good penetration on it. I wrote this before as well that Moya used to trouble Rafa with his inside-out forehands and he had some very good patterns against Rafa. So, he knows the vulnerabilities and with these focused drills, it will help.
Wow, Vamos. You watch the practice sessions? Are they on tv?
hey Joe, yeah sometimes I watch Nadal’s practice sessions to see what’s going on lol. Have been more interested in seeing how Moya affects them. I liked today’s session. Looked focused!
I watch them on the tennis TV’s YouTube channel.
Much cleaner start from Rafa. he is aggressive and very focused. He just hit a 106 mph second serve which is as big a second serve you’ll see from Rafa.
I agree and was just going to say that Rafa looks sharper today.
Bigger second serves! Yes!
yes NNY! Rafa was getting really good length on his running CC forehand in the practice session and he is doing the same so far in the match.
I am not too happy with the backhand though. Timing has been a bit off. I think it will improve.
His ground strokes are landing short, barely over the net and landing within the service box! He’s playing from so far behind the baseline, no wonder he’s hitting short. His FH side is wide open for Mahut to attack.
Better service game this sixth game.
That DTL forehand he managed to flick for a winner, was insane! Nice DTL forehand winner to end his service game.
Forehand is really good today! He is willing to flatten it out and the length he average depth he is getting is sooo much better today.
Not getting enough returns back, Rafa.
Here comes the shank lol. Steady Rafa, steady.
Definitely bigger second serves today.
What really worries me is Rafa losing rallies even against Mahut..,UEs are still there, ‘ballooning’ a lot from Rafa’s racquet,..Rafa misses easy shots…
Wake up, Rafa!
It’s okay. He is going for more today. I agree there are annoying errors but he has improved. The problem has been not getting enough returns in play.
Rafa gets the break! Now he can serve out the set!
MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE serving!!! Thank God.
Rafa wins the first set 6-4!
Good serving, very focused and well done!
8 forehand winners already from Rafa! testimony to more aggressive serving and groundstrokes.
Really like the statistics shown in this tournament. Very useful stats they show.
That first point of the second set is what Nadal needs to do more. He’s got a great volley; never understood why he doesn’t use it more.
Good! He is halfway there!
Yeah, this is an improvement, even though Mahut hasn’t been up to the task and kind of made it easier for Rafa…
Rafa should be relaxed now and should up his game!
Go Rafa! Go!
98 mph second serve at 30-0. Really liked it.
Nadal is serving really well. I can’t understand why he doesn’t serve like this more often. I think Mahut is playing pretty well, though his own 1st serve wasn’t great in the first set; seems to have gotten better in the 2nd. But yes, this is a more aggressive Rafa; he needs to keep it up.
yup, Mahut is playing a pretty decent match.
Wow that was a sick backhand pass. Hit it inside-out!
Excellent volley from Mahut at 30-30…
Short 87 mPH second serve swatted away by Mahut for a winner. Don’t took your foot off the pedal, Rafa.
Niceee move to the net there! Caught Mahut off guard.
This is the best I have seen him serve since the AO. Actually even better than that!
Rafa is surely slower to his forehand side now. That always keeps me worried about his opponents hitting flat forehands DTL
Yeah, I noticed the same…
Mahut playing better now, serving better..Rafa serving really well, so pleased to see it!
Vamos Rafa!
Way too many returns missed there. ROS has not been sharp today. I would expect Rafa to make a lot more first serve returns.
You can’t underestimate crafty old Mahut. He’s got a classy tennis brain – not the best mover in singles but…it’s only right that this second set comes down to a TB. Vamos Rafa! Come on.
Mahut has done well to take care of his serve in the second set. Rafa serving really well in this match! Nice to see!
Rafa up 4-2. Finish it out!
Hello Nny,
Hope you are well. I’ve got Rafa over Sock but I can’t remember their h2h 😉
rc,
I am doing much better, thanks! I think that Sock is playing very well right now. I know that he and Rafa have played a few times. I think Rafa has the advantage in the H2H.
It should be a good match. I think Rafa is also playing much better now and that’s a good thing!
Mahut seems a nice guy too, so likeable. He gave Rafa a thumbs up at the net after they shook hands. Nice gesture.
Rafa wins! In the quarterfinals!
Beautiful finishing point! Love it!
Glad Rafa had fast and relatively easy match! Tomorrow he is scheduled for 9pm. I don’t like Rafa playing night matches, but that’s the way it is…Sock is playing really well,,,tough match ahead for Rafa…
Vamos Champ!
Rafa gets it! vamos!
The match point was actually a summary of how he played his service games: Accurate serve, short response and a blistering forehand to finish it off!
This performance gives me enough confidence that he’ll manage Jack Sock. It will be a tough one but Rafa will manage.
vr,
I agree that this performance gives me confidence that Rafa will prevail against Sock. I have been watching Sock and am impressed with him. He’s playing well and seems very focused.
Rafa serving so well and being much more accurate with his forehand, gives me good feelings about the match with Sock. But I do think it will be tough.
If Rafa plays and particularly serves as well as he did today, he can certainly win tomorrow. However, Sock does pretty much everything better than Mahut (they probably have an equally good volley), particularly serve and ROS. He also has a Rafa-like tendency (at least recently) to get tougher as the match goes on. I wouldn’t be that surprised to see Nadal take the first set and Sock the next two. In any case, I still give Sock the slight edge in this one.
Rafa is through to the QFs! Fist pump! ?
Can’t believe how well Fabio Fognini is playing right now and he’s going to beat Kei tomorrow, just maybe — Kei has a leg issue. Fabio winning another round puts him inside the top 30 just in time for Clay season.
Vamos RBA!
rc,
You echoed my thoughts! Fabio is on his game right now! Really playing great tennis! I am thinking he has a shot against Kei who has looked a bit vulnerable.
RBA going for extra on his forehand. At least he is trying so good stuff.
What a monster second serve from Fed on game point. Just 80 MPH but kicked like a mule !!
RBA is playing really well. Fed will have to sustain a high level here.
Let’s see if RBA can get to 5 games in a set against Fed for the first time in 13 sets! You can do it RBA! 🙂
WOW! RBA breaks Fed to have a chance to serve out the first set!
RBA to serve for the set. I told ya, he is playing pretty well ,constructing points patiently and returning well. his backhand DTL has been the deciding shot in this set so far as it comes off as a surprise shot.
Of course Fed is not having a good day at the office so far. RBA would need that if he is to sustain this momentum.
Holy hell he’s serving for the set! I knew Fed’s level would have to dip at some point…
Reality sets in. 0-40 Fed.
RBA df’s away the break. Things sure turned quickly. But at least he’s shown that Fed can be taken on and even look vulnerable. If RBA can do it, then do can others.
hahaha what was quick, 5-5
Aaaaaaand whadya know?! Fed breaks back to love!
That had to be one of the quickest break backs I’ve seen in a while… RBA was so psyched to finally get that elusive set that he got right and Fed will be Fed. Let’s hope RBA can keep fighting here…
NID.
RBA too….. “polite”.
I’ve been meaning to ask, Hawks- what is NID haha?
“Never in Denial” ?
Your question was never in doubt Kevin!
Touché, Hawks. Touché. 🙂
Big hold by RBA to take it to tiebreak. If he can just out that service game out of his mind he could play a decent breaker…
Such an “impolite” #GOAT2.0.
#AllJokingsAside
Fed gets it in the end. Very close set! Funny that RBA came to the net on the third set point when he was actually striking the ball better. Fed was very tentative with his ground strokes and played pretty safe.
There you go, they just showed fed’s avg ground stroke speed: 68 mph. Well below even Rafa’s who hits with plenty more net clearance.
Yeah, the actual speed of Fed’s groundies these days is not what makes them effective. It’s the fact that since he takes the ball so early it takes time away from the opponent. Thus a Fed ground probably feels to the opponent like it’s coming a lot faster than it seems… Tricky ol’ Fed! 🙂
Yup. He does that better than anyone.
that’s right but his actual ground stroke speed at 68 MPH is significantly lower. He has actually been getting more power from this new racket. I was waiting for the stat to show up coz I could really see Fed hitting his shots so tentatively and safely.
Wow, that set was definitely tighter than I expected! Fed getting aggressive and winning that first point at the net, followed by that forehand down the line to make it 0-30 when RBA serves for the set, shook RBA big time and caused him to choke the next two points. I was impressed, and frankly surprised, that he didn’t just throw away the set in his next service game, and that he stayed relatively competitive in the breaker.
Damn… RBA came to play today.
RBA going with the old faithful : peppering the Fed backhand to get neutral balls and the attacking the forehand. Fed is tentative today and his backhand is not what it’s been lately.
You’re right, VR. There’s no doubt that Fed is not playing as well as he did in IW. I figured he would be less fresh at this one and that the humidity would be tougher for him, which is why I did not pick him to win Miami!
Fed’s lucky he hasn’t run into an opponent with a great serve today. RBA doing well from the baseline and actually winning and dictating more rallies now.
I think Fed realizes he is really having an off day and just needs to find a way to win this set just like set 1.
Oh wow wonderful backhand return winner
I think RBA takes this set with a break’s advantage
NID. LOL.
His politeness done him in again VR.
Fool you once…
#HowManyTimes!!!
RBA frustrating Fed, awesome counter-punching.
Yes. Also, 43% first serve won’t get it done. Roger has to up his game.
Wow, Zverev absolutely smoked Stan in the third set!
Spank you very much!
Buh-bye Birthday ?
#WLB
poorly played TB from RBA and Fed stepped it up. Fed’s TB record this year has been incredible.
I just heard that Zverev beat Stan! Way to go for this kid!
They are now showing the last few games of that match! I had a feeling Zverev might have a shot at this win. He played do well against Isner! He was bageling Stan in the third set. This kid keeps impressing me.
As for Fed/RBA, it was a good match. RBA came to play and pushed a Fed who was not at his best. It shows that Fed is not invulnerable. He is not unbeatable.
No one is ever unbeatable. More so even than in team sports, at an individual sport like tennis any player can lose on any given day. 35 year old Roger is generally not as good in the heat, nor at playing two days in a row. Good on RBA for playing the match he did and not being afraid to take it to Fed. In the end, Roger was just a little better. I expect him to have an easier time with Berdych, but we’ll see.
Federer will have an easy match with Berdych…Kind of 6-3 and 6-4 for Federer…Bautista probabily played the match of his life and Federer had the worst First services IN…not every one can play the match of his life in consecutive rounds to beat Federer.
And it be normal in later rounds. The only thing Federer needs to get his First Service percentage IN at least 60 percent and the title will be his…His ground game now is too hot to get beaten if his first service gets 60 IN in next rounds which I think it will…
Fed’s ground game was well below his IW level.
Asif, how long do you think Fed can stay undefeated on hard courts this year?
I am curious as to who here has ever said anyone was unbeatable.
I was wondering the same thing, Hawks…
For those who are wondering, NNY’s comment above suggests that the idea that “Fed is not invulnerable…he is not unbeatable” was something that was possibly in doubt before today’s match with RBA; and shown by that match not to be true. As everyone now seems to agree, that idea was never in doubt. I was merely emphasizing this fact.
Allez Roger!! Way to fight
Since my comment was referenced as addressing the issue of Fed being unbeatable, let me just clarify that for myself I do not believe he is in vulnerable not unbeatable. I used this match to illustrate that such is not the case. I said it because there are some who seem to have bought into the idea that he is indeed invulnerable and unbeatable. I don’t see it that way, but some seem ready to give him the title now.
I would say: if he plays like he did today, particularly if his first serve is under 50%, he is very unlikely to win the title in Miami.
And we’re wondering what moron would think any player in history is unbeatable? Delusional Pro-Fed/Anti-Rafa trolls on YouTube don’t count. 🙂
I had $2000 on fed straight sets. I was about to drop on the floor and throw a tantrum when Bautista was serving out the set at 6:5
Wow. You’re out of my league, Sam. Nice one.
So’s Monfils.
#Breaking
I don’t get it. Please explain, Hawks.
That was a close one hahah
I can see comments claiming that some think Fed is unbeatable or inwhateverable.
Now if only we could find a quote that supported said claims by some.
I’m sure they are somewhere as no one would put words in others mouths now. Would they?
Come out come out where ever you are.
Sounds of strawman crickets chirping.
#SilenceIsEverywhere
#NID