After two legends of the game met inside the o2 Arena on Tuesday night two more will do battle in the same venue on Wednesday as the Ilie Nastase group play their second match of the week.
The afternoon session is headlined by Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal as they meet with the winner likely to secure a semi-final spot while in the evening Stan Wawrinka and David Ferrer meet to preserve their tournament life. Two even looking doubles matches accompany the singles as always.
Both Murray and Nadal enjoyed comfortable wins in their opening match of the tournament. Murray overcame a game Ferrer before Nadal took advantage of a mentally short Wawrinka in the later game on Monday.
Andy Murray didn’t have too many weaknesses to his game and it was interesting that he was looking to get into the net and volley. That is an aggressive side to his game that hasn’t always been there and if he serves well it is good to have that weapon behind him.
Rafael Nadal played well to beat Wawrinka but he wasn’t brilliant and people should avoid getting too carried away. That said the Spaniard is clearly playing much better than he has over the last 18 months and if it all clicks into gear he should challenge Murray.
The last time these two met Nadal was given a good going over by Murray in the final of Madrid. I’m not sure he’ll win 63 62 here but I do think the Scot will be more at home on the court and in the conditions. I see this turning into a bit of a defensive battle but there are more errors on Nadal’s racket right now than Murray’s and that can ultimately be the difference.
Stan Wawrinka will be looking to bounce back from his disappointing defeat to Nadal on Monday when he faces Ferrer in the evening match and in many ways this match is all about the Swiss player.
If he is mentally right and focused then you would think he will have the artillery to get the job done but Ferrer can be annoying and if Stan’s mind isn’t on the job he will get found out. In truth there is nothing in the prices which convinces me to guess how Stan will be and get involved so I’ll leave this one alone.
In the doubles it is do or die for the US Open champions Mahut and Herbert when they face Zimonjic and Matkowski but the way Herbert collapsed down the stretch against Dodig and Melo puts me off them. Dodig and Melo are favourites to beat Rojer and Tecau and that looks about right so I’ll leave the doubles alone.
Back A.Murray (-1.5 games) to beat R.Nadal for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Ladbrokes
Blog tennis YTD: -23.3pts
