Rafael Nadal may be 19 matches (and 46 sets) unbeaten on his favourite surface, but even one of the sport’s greatest icons isn’t leaving anything to chance in his preparations for the Mutua Madrid Open, where he is a five-time champion. “I think that I go through a process of adaptation,” said Nadal on Monday. “I have played a couple of tournaments before where I have played really well. In Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, you have the feeling that you are in control of the situation. Here, it's different. It takes you time to adapt to how the ball bounces and flies. “Day by day I keep improving. I have better feelings. I'm happy to be back here. It's always special...
As dominant as Rafael Nadal has been during the European clay-court swing, he is not the only player in red-hot form at this week's Mutua Madrid Open. The Spaniard has some company among favourites to lift the trophy at the clay-court ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. Despite making his first appearance on the dirt this year, Juan Martin del Potro poses a significant threat at the Caja Mágica. Just six weeks removed from capturing his maiden Masters 1000 crown at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Del Potro is eyeing even more success at the elite level. And having won 15 of his past 16 matches entering the week, the Argentine is undoubtedly one to watch in the...
Get the popcorn ready! Two-time former champion Novak Djokovic, who is looking to return to top form, is set to face in-form Kei Nishikori in a blockbuster first-round match-up at the Mutua Madrid Open. Djokovic, reunited with his long-time coach Marian Vajda for the clay-court swing, will have to be immediately match-sharp at the Caja Mágica when he meets Nishikori, the recent Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters finalist (l. to Nadal). Djokovic, leads Nishikori 11-2 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, but their last red dirt meeting went to three sets at the 2016 Internazionali BNL d’Italia, which Djokovic won 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) for a place in the final. Nishikori has reached the Madrid quarter-finals (or better) in each of the past...
Rafael Nadal has once again hit top form on European clay and over the next two weeks — at the Mutua Madrid Open and at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia — and he may, potentially, complete a clean sweep of red dirt titles to take the lead in the 2018 ATP Race To London. Just three weeks ago, the Spanish superstar sat at No. 40 in the ATP Race To London (360 points), but with 11th titles at both the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (d. Nishikori) and the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell (d. Tsitsipas), Nadal has risen to third place (1,860 points). The 31-year-old is now behind first-placed Roger Federer (3,110 points) and second-placed Juan Martin del Potro (2,120), ahead of two...
With 11th titles in both Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, Rafael Nadal’s clay-court season already has a familiar dominant ring about it as the ATP World Tour turns to the Mutua Madrid Open. Victory in Barcelona over first-time finalist #NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas handed Nadal his 19th straight match win on clay. And the No. 1 in the ATP Rankings has now claimed 46 straight sets on his favourite surface, with his most recent defeat on clay coming to Dominic Thiem in last year’s Rome quarter-finals. With big-name rivals Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka absent, who holds the best chance at standing between the Spaniard and a sixth Mutua Madrid Open trophy? Nadal must capture his 32nd Masters 1000 crown...
