Rafael Nadal will be part of a jam-packed schedule in Rome as second-round action continues on Wednesday, and he faces a potentially tough opener against Philipp Kohlschreiber. Milos Raonic and Nick Kyrgios are also in action.
Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. (5) Rafael Nadal
Nadal will be looking to bounce back from a Madrid semifinal loss to Andy Murray when he takes the court at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Wednesday. The fifth-Spaniard captured back-to-back titles on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, but his momentum–and his quest for the No. 4 seed at Roland Garros–took a hit last week. Conditions in Rome, however, have always been more advantageous for Nadal than they are in Madrid. He is 47-4 lifetime at this tournament with seven titles.
Up first for Nadal is Kohlschreiber, who is a futile 1-12 in their ATP-level head-to-head series. The nine-time French Open champion is 4-0 at Kohlschreiber’s expense on clay with set scores of 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3, and 6-3. They just faced each other in Barcelona, where Nadal had no trouble coasting through a semifinal contest. Kohlschreiber set up this rematch by rolling over qualifier Inigo Cervantes 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday afternoon. The 26th-ranked German is 20-9 for the season and 12-4 in his last 16 matches, but he is a horrendous 0-21 in his last 21 non-retirement efforts against top-10 opponents.
Pick: Nadal in 2
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(10) Milos Raonic vs. Nick Kyrgios
Raonic and Kyrgios will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers on Wednesday. The head-to-head series stands at 2-2, but Raonic won their only previous clay-court encounter 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-3 two years ago at Roland Garros. They split a pair of Wimbledon showdowns in 2014 and 2015 before Kyrgios extended his winning streak against the Canadian to two by prevailing 6-4, 7-6(4) two months ago in the Miami quarterfinals.
Both big hitters are coming off Monday victories over Italian wild cards, although they took much different routes to find the winner’s circle. Kyrgios crushed little-known Salvatore Caruso 6-1, 6-2, while Raonic scraped past a more established competitor in Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Despite not being at his very best, the world No. 10 improved to 24-5 for a season in which he has not yet lost prior to the quarterfinals of any tournament. Kyrgios is 20-6 and has reached at least the quarterfinals in five of seven events in 2016. The 20-year-old Australian may be more reliable from the baseline than his opponent, but Raonic wields an even bigger serve and his current match toughness may be unequaled by anyone except Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. This could be a scenario in which Kyrgios wins as many if not more total points only to see Raonic win the bigger ones.
Pick: Raonic in 3
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As I thought he would, Nick got it done against Raonic. Can’t wait for Rafa vs NK round two. That’s barring an unlikely upset win for Kohlschreiber of course.
It seems like Nick just has all the answers against Milos now. That match will be awesome between him and Rafa if it happens.
1st Rafa 63.
Vamos!
Thank God Rafa does not have a night match tomorrow. Novak’s got a night match
vr,
I am confused. Didn’t you say in a previous comment that Rafa will have a night match against Kyrgios?
huh, I could sense Rafa was nervous in this set…so was I 🙁 but he played solid set…hope he is more relaxed in the second…and no mental lapses, Rafa! Get it done in 2!
Vamos Champ!
Rafa Set 1 stats:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiMgFUpW0AEZrsW.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiMgH6vXAAA7ghy.jpg
🙂
Superb backhand DTL under pressure! 15-30
Impressive hold from Rafa after being 0-30 down.
Good quality match
Yes, that was good shot making from Rafa to hold serve.
Both guys playing well. Kohls shows up to play and give it his best.
Now kohls down 0-30.
Rafa had 6 winners in the entire first set and he already has 6 in set 2!
I want to see Rafa get this break.
The backhand DTL is ON tonight! Brilliant play from Rafa to get the break
Yes! Now that’s Rafa! Brilliant DTL forehand winner!
Now Rafa – hold your serve!
30-30
Hold Rafa!
Crap! Kohls breaks back,
That was a brain fart by Rafa to hit straight back to Kohls on 30-30 ! The return on BP was sheer brilliance from the German though.
This is getting to be business as usual with Rafa. But kohls did crush that ROS.
Break back Rafa!
Wow! Outside the doubles alley, Rafa blasts a DTL forehand winner.
The quality is great NNY isn’t it?! Unlike in Barcelona, Kohls has really come out to play today.
Whoa! Another DTL forehand for a winner!
Massive forehand DTL second serve return from Rafa! He wants to get a break and Kohls is responding
CC backhand from Rafa to make it deuce again!
I like this aggressive play from Rafa to push to get the break back.
Kohls is staying in this because of his serve.
Rafa’s CC baxkhand return is so good at the moment!
Wow Rafa delivering some knockout punches there from both wings ! Breaks again
Rafa breaks back!
Rafaxid hitting both his DTL and CC backhands so well!
Rafa wins 63 63
Vamos!
This was really good stuff from Rafa! Nice way to bounce back after Madrid!
Khols played great but not enough for an on fire Rafa. This was not the Rafa who played Mooray in Madrid.