Rafael Nadal and Nishikori may have tough openers on their hands on Wednesday in Shanghai. They are going up against Ivo Karlovic and Nick Kyrgios, respectively.
(8) Rafael Nadal vs. Ivo Karlovic
Nadal and Karlovic will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers and for the first time since 2011 when they meet again in round two of the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Wednesday. All four of their previous encounters have gone Nadal’s way, but he has never finished the job in straight sets. Twice the Spaniard has prevailed in a third-set tiebreaker; on the grass courts of Queen’s Club in 2008 and three years later in Indian Wells.
Karlovic is through to the last 32 thanks to a 6-4, 7-6(6) victory over Jeremy Chardy on Monday. The 36-year-old Croat is 34-21 on the season and registers at an impressive 21st in the world. Nadal is coming off a successful campaign in Beijing, where he reached the final before succumbing to Novak Djokovic. The No. 8 seed is 9-5 lifetime in Shanghai and a shocking 5-5 in his last 10 matches. Nothing suggests this will be an easy one for the Nadal, but he should once again survive the Karlovic serve in the end.
Pick: Nadal in 3
[polldaddy poll=9124768]
(6) Kei Nishikori vs. Nick Kyrgios
Nishikori is looking to bounce back from–by his standards–a premature exit in Tokyo, where the defending champion was upset by Benoit Paire in the semifinals. Japan’s top player is a stellar 51-12 for his 2015 campaign, but he has underwhelmed for the most part ever since hammering Nadal in the Montreal quarterfinals. Since reaching the Shanghai semis in 2011, Nishikori is 3-3 at the event and has not advanced past the third round.
Up first for the world No. 6 is a showdown with Kyrgios, whom he has never faced. The 20-year-old Australian punched his ticket to the second round by destroying Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-3, 6-2 on Monday. Thus continued a sudden turnaround in form, as Kyrgios slumped after Wimbledon but made it to the semifinals in Kuala Lumpur and the quarters in Tokyo. This is a good opportunity for one of the world No. 32’s biggest wins, and he may be able to capitalize if he serves like he did in round one–63 percent, 13 aces, and only one double-fault.
Pick: Kyrgios in 3
[polldaddy poll=9124771]
I just do not like seeing Ivo on the other side of the net…his “serve and nothing else tennis” really frustrates me…
Vamos Rafa!
Rafa got broken in the 1st game but his first point was a bad call against Rafa
this is what I call bad luck…
Nishi in threeeeeeee!
Congrats to Meeeee!
(commies to Ricky)
It can only get better. It could hardly get any worse than the first two games.
it’s all about that bad call…Rafa is always stressed at the beginning and losing the first point made him more tense and he lost his service…damn blind umpire!!!
Rafa’s 1st bll was an ace (according to hawkeye) but it was called out so that threw him off the rest of the points in that 1st game. So stupid, Mohamed would have overruled the call.
Facing Dr.Ivo with those long legs and flailing arms must be rather like playing a huge moving wind turbine.
#LongLevers
Rafa breaks back………..Yesssssssssssssssssssss!
Vamos Rafa!
Three stunning returns from Rafa. Woweeeeeeeeeeee
And then a hold of his own serve to love. Better and better
Hawkeye take note. Rafa is sweating less than Dr.Ivo.
Good to know.
He wasn’t sweating when he played well for much of the first set vs Nole.
But then the floodgates opened and his level dropped.
#MentalInjury
The important point is his mental strength is in tact.
Rafa takes the 1st set 75. What a player!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vamos Rafa!
yesssssss!!! Way to go, Rafa!!!!
Vamoooosss!!!!
How about that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rafa means business today.
Vamos!
The commies can all now shut it.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRR472CUYAA1P7_.png
🙂
Rafa beat Dr Ivo in 1s serve % an he is the same in 1st serve points won.
More winners than UEs , yeiiiiii
Hes playing Karlovic….
who cares. mute point.
More importantly, he’s playing himself between the ears and he’s winning that battle as shown in the match stats.
He had much worse numbers against World No. 916 Mikael Torpegaard in his recent Davis Cup rubber.
[polldaddy poll=9126591]
[polldaddy poll=9126589]
Are you actually watching the match, Ricky?
what do u mean actually?
Rafa’s winners would have been good against anybody, actually.