Monte Carlo Masters 2018

[britbox]

This next game is huge for Kei. Nadal will be smelling blood.

 

[Moxie]

Because he was shaking his wrist a little?

 

[britbox]

No, just the mental side of it. If Kei drops serve here, the set should be over. Nadal is great at stepping on the throat.

 

[Moxie]

Eventually he may have more trouble with fatigue...he's been on court twice as long as Rafa.

 

[britbox]

That might even have been the match right there.

 

[Moxie]

Rafa's been a little sloppy the last two matches...timing a bit off.

 

[britbox]

5-2

 

[Moxie]

A little nervy there, but got the game.

 

[Moxie]

Maybe feeling some pressure. Has to win to keep #1. Expected to win here. When the first set is in the bag, that will be better.

 

[britbox]

Can't see Kei coming back from a set down against Nadal.

 

[Moxie]

No. But I'll feel better if he closes out the set comfortably on his serve.

 

[Moxie]

He almost knocked Kei over there and he didn't even touch the ball.

 

[Moxie]

Nishikori's not going down without a fight. He may not beat Rafa today, but like GSM said, he will see him in Barcelona mid-next week.

 

[britbox]

First set Rafa. I like watching Kei though. One of the few players who makes a double handed backhand look graceful.

 

[Moxie]

There's one set. A lot of good stuff in there from Nishikori, though.

 

[Moxie]

Borg did, too.

 

[britbox]

Good hold. Thought he'd blown it with that horror show effort at taking the ball out of the air at the net at 30/30.

 

[Moxie]

That was a mess.

 

[britbox]

It looked like that shot by Nadal was going out

 

[Moxie]

It's the spin makes them do weird things at the last minute. Kei unhappy.