Predicted Winners in BOLD [3] Andy Murray (GBR) vs Jeremy Chardy (FRA) H2H – Chardy’s forehand and serve could cause a few problems, but if Murray struggles he will find a way to Chardy’s backhand and grind out a win. I doubt Murray struggles. [4] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs [Q] Marsel Ilhan (TUR) H2H – Rafa’s opponent…
Category: Rafael Nadal
2015 Power Ranking: Madrid – Murray’s Clay Feat
2015 Power Ranking #5 – Murray Does Damage on the Dirt Novak Djokovic – Novak has not played since winning Monte Carlo because frankly he didn’t have to. Will he cross the Rubicon and take Rome? Andy Murray – I can’t move Andy to #1 because of Nole’s stellar 2015, but Murray won Munich and was…
Masters Madrid 2015: Rafael Nadal vs. Andy Murray Championship Prediction
Murray Rising Andy Murray is playing the best clay court tennis of his career. On Monday, Murray won his first ever clay court title in Germany. He has backed up this victory with successive wins over Kohlschreiber, Raonic, and Nishikori. Kei Nishikori is a serious threat on clay, and Murray took him down in straight…
Masters Madrid 2015: Semifinal Prediction Rafael Nadal vs. Tomas Berdych
Rafa will be happy that the surface is clay and not blue Rafael Nadal vs. Tomas Berdych: This May be Closer than One Would Think Rafael Nadal on clay in Spain versus an opponent he has dominated in the past. Sounds like a recipe for a one-sided thrashing. Rafa has played well enough in Madrid…
Madrid 2015: ATP Quarterfinal Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD I am still sick and missed predicting the WTA semis – good thing as I would have gotten both wrong [3] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs [10] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) H2H – If Grigor wins, panic might be warranted by the Rafa fans. I don’t think that will happen though. [6] Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs…
Masters Madrid 2015: May 7th ATP Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD I am a bit ill so these are coming later than usual. Manolo Santana (11 a.m. start) [3] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs Simone Bolelli (ITA) H2H – I like Rafa to advance. [7] David Ferrer (ESP) vs Fernando Verdasco (ESP) H2H – This match should be pretty awesome, but in the end I…
Masters Madrid 2015: May 6th ATP Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD (This is an incredible slate of matches) [3] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs Steve Johnson (USA) H2H – Johnson is a great story, but not every story has a happy ending. [1] Roger Federer (SUI) vs Nick Kyrgios (AUS) – I could see this going either way as Roger may be pacing himself for Paris….
La Corrida de Toros: Tennis in Barcelona
Spain Reigns on Clay Rafa Nadal’s 9 Roland Garros titles and decade of dominance on clay are the peak of a Spanish trend on clay Sergei Bruguera won Roland Garros in 1993 and 1994, Carlos Moya won in 1998, Albert Costa won in 2002, and Juan Carlos Ferrero won in 2003. Alex Corretja, Sergei Bruguera,…
Is Rafa Seeking New Shores to Conquer or is Nole Breaking the Mallorcan Monopoly?
This is the key question for the remainder of the 2015 clay court season. Djokovic fired the first shot yesterday. Madrid and Rome may also be stages of battle, but tennis fans everywhere are hoping for a Djokovic-Nadal match in Paris to settle this. Incredible view of the #MonteCarlo Tournament. One of the most beautiful…
Monte-Carlo 2015: April 17th Quarterfinal Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD [6] Tomas Berdych (CZE) v [4] Milos Raonic (CAN) H2H – Milos leads their head-to-head 3-1, but all of the matches have been fairly close and none of the 4 were on clay. I think Milos is currently playing big matches better than Berdych has in recent months. Therefore, I think Milos wins…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 