Madrid 2017 R3: Rafael Nadal vs Nick Kyrgios

Nick or Rafa?

  • Total voters
    69
mike danny

mike danny

Bionic Poster
I think this match deserves a thread of its own.

Nick seems to be in good form, while Rafa, well, not so much.

They played in Rome last year in conditions favoring Nadal much more and Nick still took a set. You'd think on the Madrid surface Nick is in with a better chance.

Who do you pick? Nick has already beaten Djokovic this year twice and has given Federer one hell of a match in Miami. Will he bring it against Rafa?
 
Some image pls :p:
Nadalvs_Kyrgios_MM17.jpg
 
mike danny said:
I think this match deserves a thread of its own.

Nick seems to be in good form, while Rafa, well, not so much.

They played in Rome last year in conditions favoring Nadal much more and Nick still took a set. You'd think on the Madrid surface Nick is in with a better chance.

Who do you pick? Nick has already beaten Djokovic this year twice and has given Federer one hell of a match in Miami. Will he bring it against Rafa?
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Gotta admit I like Kyrgios's chance. He's serving really well and will be fresher, plus the conditions favour him more; while Rafa's having an ear infection, just come off an almost three-hour battle and usually can't quite play his best tennis at this tourney.

They have played only 2 matches so far but 3TBs already with Kyrgios winning all of them both on grass and clay. Rafa must serve much better and indeed do everything better than he did today and definitely shouldn't let it get into to a TB or TBs to have a chance.

Kyrgios in 3 but I'll be happy if I'm wrong.
 
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With the way both are playing right now I don't see anything but Kyrgios in easy two and maybe he will not even need tie breaks. If seriously, I think Nadal should really tank this tournament and prepare for what is really important.
 
Surprised to see Nadal not having any vote.
I don't trust Nick on clay to be fair, some of those 'safe' predictions can backfire badly.
 
InsideOut900 said:
Surprised to see Nadal not having any vote.
I don't trust Nick on clay to be fair, some of those 'safe' predictions can backfire badly.
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This is faster conditions clay, which will benefit Nick's more aggressive approach. He's not half bad on the dirt anyway...his Canberra roots are on a variety of surfaces including dirt; his first slam match was a victory in straight sets vs Stepanek at RG'13; his first Challenger titles outside Oz were on faster American HarTru clay in '14 and the draws included five current top 100 players, one of them now top 15; his first ATP final was on clay in '15 and he backed that up with a win over fedr right there in Madrid.
 
Charleneriva said:
But if he beats Rafa he can go all the way to win the title, provided that his hip is okay. ;)
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Maybe! Although clay is not his best surface. I wouldn't want to bet my money on that. Having said that, the balls fly through the air a little quicker here and it helps offensive play. Kyrgios might benefit!
 
Going with the upset, maybe even in straight sets. Nadal playing for 3 hours against Fognini and having an era problem will do him this time.
 
mike danny said:
He still won though. The Rafa of last year or 2 years ago would have lost in straights.
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True. But I'd pick Nadal in a lower altitude. You can almost see him struggling to keep balls in when they fly this way.

I do wonder why Nadal has more trouble adjusting than other players...
 
Its depends on whether Kyrgios can serve very well, then raffles is in trouble, yet raffles is a fighter.

Cheers
3Fees :)
 
They actually played a lovely match in Rome last year. Think Rafa has got this, he'll be up for it because I think he knows he has to raise his level to beat Nick, just has to keep Nick moving and not allow him to hit his shots from a comfortable position, also should serve much much better. But if Nick is dialed in and is serving like against Novak in Acapulco, well then probably too good as Rafa would then need to go unbroken for the match
 
“I think that even though I played really badly, my attitude has been very positive," said Nadal. "My attitude and the will to win today's match was there. My level of tennis was not so high today, but I managed to make it through. It was uncomfortable. I think before it wasn't so windy, but when I started playing, it was a really awful day. It was really windy.”

After watching Atletico Madrid play his Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League football semi-finals tonight, Nadal will prepare for Thursday’s third-round clash against Australian No. 16 seed Nick Kyrgios, who memorably beat the Spaniard at 2014 Wimbledon. Nadal got the better of Kyrgios over three sets at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in May 2016.

“He's a very difficult opponent,” said Nadal. “He's one of the most difficult players you can play. It's true that I think on clay he's a very, very tough player… I have to play really well to be able to beat him. I think I'm ready to do that. We'll see what happens tomorrow. I don't know what's going to happen.”
 
Interesting match up. I expect Nick to serve well, he's always bringing his serve with him to most matches these days. Rather conservative on 2nd serve against Ryan, no huge 2nd serve bombs, though there was really no pressure on it in the first place. Where do you guys rank his serve right at this moment?
 
Honestly, Nadal won today because Fognini either was a bit tired in the end or most likely, his brain was not able to cope with the challenge of finishing Nadal. The first set was for the italian and he checked out miserably.
Kyrgios serve is pretty difficult to break. Add to that Nadal was far from stellar today, and the fact he is recovering from a nasty problem like otitis. Honestly, this is Nick's to lose. I go with the thug in straights. I will be surprised if Nadal wins this convincingly, but we already know that we cannot count out Nadal specially in dirt. However, it is the less likely outcome tomorrow
 
Really, really wish that Nadal hadn't played Madrid, even before he got sick. He should've sat this one out and recharged for Rome.

I'm thinking Nadal still wins this, but am concerned about the resultant effects if it is a long and arduous match.

Nadal to win in 2 very close sets.
 
I've just realised. Is there any player who has played all Fed, Djokovic and Nadal this year? And if Kyrgios beats Rafa and somehow he and Murray meet in the final.. :D
 
This is not some jinx post against kyrgios.

Ive been saying since acapulco nadal has flattered to deceive and later i think kyrgios will tear him apart.

Kyrgios does everything bigger here now in 2017 and with nadals cumbersome movement i can see him getting creamed in straight sets.
 
WhiskeyEE said:
I have no idea who to root for. I might have to root for Nick just because Nadal is earning too many points.
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The field sucks so bad right now, whoever shows up is winning points.
Fed should have showed up. I am pretty sure he is not winning Wimby this year in case he is saving himself for that.
 
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