Nadal probably, based on how they match up historically and current form. Also doesn't hurt that Nadal beat Raonic in an exho a week ago. The only time Raonic has beaten Nadal it was an extremely tight match. Would be surprised if Nadal did not win this in 2. Raonic is likely to continue to attempt constantly rushing the net thanks to his new coach, and if Nadal hits passing shots like he did against Mischa Zverev tonight then Milos will be in trouble

 

RAFA had set points in the 2nd set of the match he lost to Raonic which could've gone either way. Since then RAFA has improved.

 

RAFA in 2.

Otherwise he isn't BACK

 

RAFA in easy 2 of course, to show that he is really BACK. 6-1 6-2. Book it.

 

Raonic to showcase his all court skills and defeat RAFA Vamos!!

 

Raonic's serve can keep each set tight (although not always), but the match-up advantage Nadal has will be shown on the break points as Raonic's small margin for error becomes even smaller as he gets nervous.

 

If he serves well, Raonic will win this easily.

6-4 6-2 or something similar.

 

This match might reopen the "Nadal is back" folder. I'm already reuniting my team of statisticians and engineers for this worldwide subject.

 

Make it happen folks.

I like this match. Debut Rafa looking sharp and Milos on a favourable tournament for him.

 

RAFA in 3 sets.

 

botnic BH is not strong enough for the moonball and he moves like a crane on court so dull will have him on a string.... interestingly even though dull stands in a different court to receive serve

but is still quite good with servebots so i expect this to be a NID straight sets win for the nadal

 

raonic might snag a set again but nadal really should win this

 

c'mon Milos, destroy the Andorran pusher.

 

I'm not really intersted in stirring up anything because it's a lost cause anyway but I just had to respond to this because I watched Murray vs Almagro yesterday and as much as I love Andy and think he's a really great player it just cracks me up when Murray fans call Nadal a pusher. It was just endless retrieving from Murray, whereas Nadal has actually been very agressive since the first shot in Abu Dhabi.

 

Depends on Raonic's form, which I don't know what is because he's just too boring for me to care.

 

Raonic can win and Rafa can.
Rao bh ....hmmm

 

Let's hope Muglos can volley well in this match. Despite working with McEnroe in the past (not sure if they are still together), Milos has terrible volleys. In his exhibition match with Nadal last week, he missed some basic volleys so let's just hope that he volleys well for once.

 

The real final. Should be a good test of where their forms are going into the AO.

 

RAFA should take this in two. Botnic took 5 sets and Federer reinjuring himself to win that Wimbledon SF. RAFA usually handles people like Botnic relatively well.

 

Is there a way both can lose?

 

Rafa should take it. I'd like to see hin back in the top 3. Too bad it's at 4 am here. Should be interesting.

 

Hopefully Raonic.

Surely Nadal isn't stupid enough to win here.

 

Surely Nadal isn't stupid enough to win here.

What exactly are you talking about?

 

Come on Milos! Roast this RAFA.

 

slight edge to the mallorcan botbuster over canadian world #3 based on his superb 17-1 combined record vs. the holy trinity of servebots - karlovic, isner, raonic (chairman with the lone win over rafa).

 

The only time Nadal lost to Raonic, he still had MPs( he tanked them in order to avoid playing Federer in the next round).
Nadal in 2 sets. NID.

 

Well damn

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