Rafael Nadal vs. Andy Murray: Semi-Final Preview – Sony Ericsson Open 2012
Stage is set for the arch rivals to take on one another in the semi-final of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Florida. It is going to be world number two, Rafael Nadal, who will bump into the number one Briton, Andy Murray, in
search for a title match spot.
The tournament has already witnessed a couple of major heartbreaking upsets. Firstly, it was the Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer, who stooped to the former world number one, Andy Roddick and then the eighth ranked French sensation,
Marion Bartoli, stunned the reigning world number one, Victoria Azarenka, to hand her the first defeat in her 27th encounter this season.
No one would like to see the back of the French Open champion at this stage. So, the fourth ranked Briton will have to fight the superhuman Spaniard as well as the roars of ‘Vamos Rafa’. It will be an enthralling battle unless
the 24-years-old Briton is the victim of stomach ache once again on Friday.
Taking a look at the head-to-head encounters of both players, Nadal clearly has his nose ahead with 13-6 record but there is something notable here that the Briton has once the previous head-to-head battle that was contested in
Tokyo during the Rakuten Japan Open in October last year. The Spanish number one will be all fired up to have his revenge of that defeat for sure.
The tour of Miami has been very impressive for both players. They have just dropped one set apiece on their way to the last four players but their stern test will start on the eve of Friday when they will march on towards the hard
courts of Miami to go one-on-one.
Notable victories in this tournament for the Briton include the ninth seed Serb, Janko Tipsarevic, whilst the Spaniard escaped an upset against the big powerhouse of France, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in the quarter-final. Other than
that these players have been hardly tested at all.
Murray had an issue with his stomach in the last match against Serb and took timeout to have a check-up from the doctor. In a post-match interview, he stated, “don't know if I drank too much beforehand and kind of over-hydrated.
Each time I took a sip I wanted to burp. I took two tablets (from the doctor). He said it was to settle my stomach down. Basically the last two sets I hardly drunk anything."
This might be an issue for the British number one. If he isn’t fully fit, he is definitely going to go down to the majestic ‘Rafa’ who spares no one at all on his day. If someone needs a highlight of his mastery, they should just
play the six-hour five-set marathon final of the Australian Open Grand Slam played in January this year.
Everyone is eagerly waiting to see an eye-startling battle between the two gurus of tennis. Nadal has the best odds to win the match but Murray is never easy when he is 100% fit. The Spaniard will have to solve this puzzle to enhance
his chances of winning his maiden title this year.
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