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Nadal fails again, Djokovic and Murray battle through

By Geoff Nichols

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Nadal fails again, Djokovic and Murray battle through

The struggles of Rafael Nadal were highlighted once again at the Cincinnati Masters. With a potential quarter final with Roger Federer for the winner, Nadal suffered another unexpected loss, this time at the hands of Spanish compatriot Feliciano Lopez.

It was a star studded day of play in the third round at Cincinnati, one that told the story of the 2015 season for Nadal. Whilst he came up short against Lopez, fellow Big Four members Federer, Murray and Djokovic all made it into the quarter finals.

The nature of the victories for Djokovic and Murray showed the difference between their current standing in the game compared to Nadal’s. Both men staring down the barrel of defeat, with Djokovic a double break down in his deciding set and Murray fending of match points.

– What is wrong with Rafael Nadal? – 

It is a measure of the diminished aura that Nadal is suffering from that he cannot exert the same kind of scoreboard pressure of his opponents. He eventually lost in a tie break, going down 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-3). The closing stages of the match, classically difficult for players on the verge of a big win, were when Lopez seemed to have the most belief.

This was a stark contrast to the tribulations of David Goffin, who had Djokovic on the ropes in their third round tie. With 3-0 and a double break of the world number one’s serve, he looked set to cruise to victory in the decider with Djokovic struggling in all areas.

However, he crumpled under the pressure, affording Djokovic six straight games without much resistance, eventually falling 6-4 2-6 6-3. The reputation of Djokovic and the situation Goffin found himself produced one of the worst collapses of the year.

– Andy Murray having career year in 2015 – 

Things weren’t too different for Murray against an inspired Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian, playing some of his best tennis of a difficult 2015, looked to be in charge for most of the match. Attacking the Murray second serve, it looked like an upset was on the cards.

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The world number two was not about to give up the ghost, however, knowing that his number two seeding at the US Open is not quite secure. He had to save match points in the end, coming through 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 despite the apparent fatigue he is suffering from the Montreal Masters.

The motivation to hold of Roger Federer, who himself seems to be in inspired form once again, remains a strong one for Murray. Whoever is the second seed at the US Open benefits from the knowledge that they will avoid Djokovic until the final, and the world number one if the favourite for the title.

On evidence of the US hard court series to this point, it is Murray who is the form player heading to New York. It will be interesting to see where Federer’s level is it when he comes up against a top player, with the hope of another match against Nadal on the back burner for time being.

Please do share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below and on Twitter.

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