Kei Nishikori has his work cut out on Sunday when he faces off against Rafael Nadal on the red clay of Monte Carlo. A foregone conclusion? Not quite, but a huge ask of the Japanese ball striker.
Nishikori might take some heart from the fact that he beat Nadal in their last encounter (a third-place playoff match in the 2016 Olympics) but that was on hard court and Nadal was playing through injury. Another positive he might take comes from a performance on clay back in 2014 where he won a set in Madrid before retiring injured in the deciding stanza.
Aside from that, the omens aren’t good. Nadal has been imperious all week. In particular, the 6-0, 6-2 thrashing of Dominic Thiem sent a huge statement to the locker room.
“He’s been playing amazing, dominating all the matches” was Nishikori’s blunt assessment of Nadal’s progress. The Spaniard has only lost here once in the last twelve years.
Another finals victory would extend a record Nadal already owns. Last year in Monte Carlo, he became the first male player in Open era tennis to win the same tournament ten times. The smart money says he makes it eleven.
Who was Nadal texting after the match?
Some of you might have caught Nadal texting on his mobile phone straight after the Dimitrov match. The recipient?
“I was texting Carlos to tell him that we need to book a court quick, I just wanted to hit some forehands winners that I think I need for tomorrow” Nadal explained.
The Historical Head to Head
Nadal leads 9-2
2016 Olympic Tennis 0 Hard Kei Nishikori Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-7(1) 6-3
2016 Barcelona F Clay Rafael Nadal Kei Nishikori 6-4 7-5
2016 Indian Wells Masters QF Hard Rafael Nadal Kei Nishikori 6-4 6-3
2015 Canadian Masters QF Hard Kei Nishikori Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-4
2014 Madrid Masters F Clay Rafael Nadal Kei Nishikori 2-6 6-4 3-0 Ret’d
2014 Australian Open R16 Hard Rafael Nadal Kei Nishikori 7-6(3) 7-5 7-6(3)
2013 FO – RG R16 Clay Rafael Nadal Kei Nishikori 6-4 6-1 6-3
2012 Miami Masters R16 Hard Rafael Nadal Kei Nishikori 6-4 6-4
2011 Miami Masters R64 Hard Rafael Nadal Kei Nishikori 6-4 6-4
2010 Wimbledon R128 Grass Rafael Nadal Kei Nishikori 6-2 6-4 6-4
2008 Queen’s R16 Grass Rafael Nadal Kei Nishikori 6-4 3-6 6-3
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