Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray meet shortly in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. These two have met 9 times before, with Nadal holding a 7 – 2 advantage.
In the previous round, Nadal beat Ivo Karlovic in 4 sets while Murray dispatched John Isner in straights. Nadal’s level of play has been somewhat inconsistent over the course of the Australian Open and it’s unclear exactly how well he’ll play tonight. Murray, however, has been playing excellent tennis.
That said, we expect Nadal to beat Murray in 5 close sets. Our view is that Murray’s counter-punching, often passive style of tennis will allow Nadal to develop a rhythm and, ultimately, take control of the match. If history is any guide, the players who have had the most success against Nadal are the ones who play aggressively, shorten points, and never let Rafa get in a groove.
What’s your prediction?