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.