World Tour Finals Day 4 Preview: Nadal faces Murray test

After the blockbuster Roger Federer v Novak Djokovic clash on Tuesday, it’s time to gear up for another mouthwatering Big 4 encounter at the ATP World Tour Finals in London on Wednesday. Rafael Nadal takes on Andy Murray which has every possibility of turning out to be a thriller while in the other match of the day, Stan Wawrinka faces David Ferrer.

We preview the two matches:

(2) Andy Murray v (5) Rafael Nadal

Murray took Nadal on his own turf, beating the clay-court expert at his own game at the Madrid Open

Head-to-head: Nadal leads 15-6

Both men have a lot to prove in this particular match. As much as Andy Murray has been consistent throughout the season, a resurgent Rafael Nadal is perhaps the ultimate challenge for the Scot. Nadal has prevailed over the World No. 2 on every surface possible and even in their only meeting at the World Tour Finals in 2010, the Spaniard edged Murray narrowly in a third set tie-break.

The two-time Slam champion did beat Nadal in their only other meeting this year – at the Madrid Masters final where Murray literally crushed Nadal’s hopes and ambitions on his favourite red clay. It was a blow for the Spaniard who was struggling with his nerves and forehands at the beginning of the year.

But, but by bit, Rafa has re-gained that lost confidence after the US open. This is the first time in his career that the 14-time major winner has as many as 14 victories in the period between the year’s last Slam and the Year-ending Championships.

With two finals at Beijing and Basel, a semi-final at Shanghai Masters and a quarter-final at Paris Masters, the former two-time World Tour Finals runner-up arrived in London high on momentum. Rafa has said that he has begun to enjoy playing again and that is quite evident as he dispatched Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 6-2 in his first round robin match.

It was a polished performance highlighted by a phenomenal running lob that exhibited all of Nadal’s vision and geometrical sense of the court.

With such a run, Nadal too faces the challenge of playing with such conviction against a man who has notched up 69 wins this season so far. With two Masters titles, a runner-up finish at the Australian Open and two other titles, Murray has come to London as a much improved player from what he was 12 months ago when he exited in the round robin stage. Surely, the former two-time semi-finalist would not like to give up a chance of reaching another semi-fual in his most consistent season.

Could Murray’s chances be hampered by the fact that he is having to focus on both hardcourt and claycourt preparation for the Davis Cup final? Given how he performed in his 6-4, 6-4 victory over David Ferrer in his opening match, it certainly did not look like it.

Much will depend on how each copes up with the situation mentally, especially if it goes the distance. If Rafa’s forehands find their depth once again, he can have his first win over a fellow Big 4 member since the 2014 French Open.

Prediction: Nadal in three sets

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(4) Stan Wawrinka v (7) David Ferrer

Wawrinka and Ferrer have met at this tournament before, pictured here in 2013l

Head-to-head: Ferrer leads Wawrinka 7-6

French Open champion Stan Wawrinka will need more than just his devastating backhand when he takes on David Ferrer in Wednesday’s other match. The Swiss No. 2 will need to keep his focus intact and that, for him, is the ultimate test.

Having conceded a break towards the business end of the first set against Rafael Nadal in his opening match, Wawrinka could never recover on Monday. The performance went downhill from there and there were times, when the two-time Slam champion looked even disinterested to be out there.

The final scoreline of 3-6, 2-6 certainly does not augur well for the Swiss going forward and he needs to raise his level by several notches against a player as relentless as Ferrer.

The Spaniard comes into this edition of the World Tour Finals after having missed qualification last year. It has been a year of mixed fortunes for the 33-year-old as he scooped up five titles but lost a chunk of the season due to an elbow injury. He still looks raring to go and he gave a good account of himself in his 4-6, 4-6 loss to Andy Murray in his first match.

However, this is a difficult proposition for Ferrer if Wawrinka is able to find his game again. Since Wawrinka has realized his potential, the balance of power in this rivalry has shifted to the Swiss’ side, which is why the World No. 4 has won their last three encounters. One of these matches was right here in London in 2013 which the Swiss won in three sets.

It is logical to expect more of the same on Wednesday and more so because, Wawrinka is probably very eager to obliterate the memories of his bitter loss against Nadal.

Prediction: Wawrinka in three sets